Parents Testify Against Simpsonville Woman Accused of Molestation

The trial of Ronasha Taylor, a Simpsonville woman accused of child molestation at a Greer daycare center, continued Wednesday with parents saying Taylor seemed to be a "great teacher."

But, according to a report by the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, other parents testified that they believe the 24-year-old Taylor sexually abused their children.

The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office has charged Taylor, of 108 Jackson Road in Simpsonville, with several counts of a lewd act on a minor, as well as charges of criminal sexual conduct with a minor under age 11, allegedly occurring between December 2010 and March 2011.

The testimony and evidence so far has been circumstantial, and Taylor's defense lawyer on Wednesday questioned whether the prosecution's expert witness, a forensic evaluator who interviewed the alleged pre-school-aged victims, had asked the children leading questions in order to elicit negative responses against his client.

While some parents, even those of the alleged victims, said Taylor seemed to be a "fantastic" teacher who was great with children, they also told jurors that they noticed changes in their children — such as nightmares and uncharacteristic behavior — they fear indicate abuse at the hands of Taylor.

In an interview with the evaluator, "a child said Taylor asked her to lick her 'tummy' in a bathroom at the daycare center. The girl said she witnessed another child lick Taylor's stomach," the paper reported. In a third interview, the child reportedly said she had licked and touched Taylor's breasts. "Asked who taught her to do that, she replied her mother," the paper reported. 

Taylor has flatly denied the allegations against her and told authorities as far back as 2010 she believed the alleged victims were being coached.

The trial is expected to continue into next week. For more on the story click here and here.