Thayer appears before Judge Killin for advisement

Julie R. Thayer attended an advisement hearing on charges of child abuse and assault via web cam in Phillips County Court on Thursday, Oct. 7. The 40-year-old former childcare director appeared via Webex software in front of Judge Kimbra L. Killin in Holyoke.

Thayer and her lawyer, Justie Nicol, waived her rights to formal advisement. After doing so, Judge Killin issued protective orders for the two victims in the case, both minors, which prohibits Thayer from being around or having any contact with throughout the duration of the case.

Charges against Thayer, stemming from an incident at the Haxtun Community Childcare Center, include two charges of assault in the third degree and two charges of child abuse.

Before setting a November date for a disposition hearing, representation from the State made it clear the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office did not intend to negotiate an offer in the case.

A recent statement from the Haxtun Community Childcare Board of Directors said allegations were brought against Thayer from the family of two currently enrolled children of the Center. An investigation followed and allegations were founded by the Haxtun Police Department, Phillips County Child Protective Services and by State licensing.

“Our State Licensing Agent and her supervisor visited for our annual inspection on Tuesday, Sept. 21,” the Board statement said. “Upon their inspection, we learned that our staff was missing various components that are required to be either a director, lead teacher or aide. We also found several incidents of fraudulent activity from the previous director. We were left with no other option than to shut the center down for a day and to limit the number of children that we were allowed to care for. Upon these findings, the previous director submitted her resignation and the board unanimously agreed to make the resignation immediate.”

Since that Sept. 21 visit, HCCC board members have worked diligently over the past few weeks to clean and re-organize and a more recent visit from State licensing, just last week, found no violations.

Thayer’s next appearance in Phillips County Court is scheduled for Nov. 4 at 9 a.m.