Covington childcare employee not guilty on assault charge

Update: A Kenton County jury found Shelia Sandmann not guilty on the assault charge on Jan. 15, 2020.

A Covington Independent Public Schools employee has been charged after police said she assaulted an 8-month-old child. 

Sheila Sandmann, 63, of Taylor Mill, was charged with fourth-degree assault, child abuse, police said. 

Covington Police said the parents of the 8-month-old victim filed a report and said the assault was at the hands of an employee of the care facility, police said. The incident occurred on Aug. 26 at Chapman Child Care Center, according to police. 

Police said the child was "inappropriately gabbed and handled."

"It was determined through Cincinnati Children’s Hospital that the victim did not suffer any serious internal or external injury but did have visible swelling on her arm," police said."

Chapman Child Development Center, located at 2500 Madison Avenue, provides childcare for the children of teen parents and employees of Covington Independent Public Schools. The facility is near Holmes High School.

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Covington Independent Public School System also notified police of the incident.

Covington Police are not releasing the victim’s identity or injuries due to the child's age. 

In a letter home to parents, district officials said they’re legally not at liberty to discuss details of this matter, but assured parents immediate action was taken and the person involved is no longer with the district, according to Enquirer media partner Fox19.

Fox19 reported the person accused of shaking the young child was immediately reported to the Cabinet for Families and Children. “In addition, members of our district administrative team and I met with the parents of the child. We assured them that their concerns were heard and given consideration in the decision-making process,” Superintendent Alvin L. Garrison said in the letter.

Enquirer media partner Fox19 contributed to this report.