Rockville Day-Care Owner Charged with Child Abuse

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A child may have lifelong side effects from shaken baby syndrome, and the Rockville child-care owner who reported the girl wasn’t breathing faces child abuse charges.

Montgomery County Police recently arrested Ana Valentin, 40, on charges of first- and second-degree child abuse, reports WJLA TV. If convicted of both charges, Valentin faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.

Her attorney, Rene Sandler of Rockville, says Valentin denies the charges.

Prosecutors say on Jan. 5 Valentin called 911 to the My Angel and Me Day Care Center she operated out of her home in the 5400 block of Parkvale Terrace.

Valentin told emergency responders that a 6-month-old girl was unconscious and not breathing. The baby was in a swing while Valentin answered a knock at the front door, she says, but when she returned, the baby was no longer breathing. Valentin said she began CPR.

Doctors at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., who treated the child found brain hemorrhaging they said was likely caused by shaken baby syndrome. The infant, who showed no earlier signs of abuse, suffered seizures.

The Maryland State Department of Education’s Division of Early Childhood Development has cited My Angel and Me Day Care Center at least 10 times since 2013, WJLA reports.

Violations include not maintaining children’s emergency information, keeping a potentially hazardous item in reach of children, insufficient first aid supplies, lack of childproof devices and failure to complete continued training.

The state has suspended Valentin’s day care license.

She has posted a bond and is awaiting a preliminary hearing date, according to police.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Special Victims Investigation Division at 240-773-5424. Callers may remain anonymous.

»Photo of Ana Valenton, courtesy of Montgomery County Police

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