Daycare worker avoids jailtime in child abuse cases
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — A woman charged with two counts of child abuse was sentenced in Fayette County Court Thursday.
ABC 36 spoke with the families of the children who were under Susan Harding’s care and shared what they had to say about her sentencing.
“The pain and suffering that Chase has endured over the last three, more than three years since this happened, it’s hard for me to address the court because I live it every single day. The things that she has done to him and the effects it’s had on his life,” said Ashley Arrington.
Ashley, Chase’s mother, stands beside her husband as she expresses her disappointment in the decision from the court.
Judge Goodman sentenced Harding to six months conditional discharge, meaning she serves no jail time and gets to walk free only if she follows the conditions set by the court.
“This was a slap in the face to us. I mean she pled guilty to a felony and a misdemeanor and she got two days in jail. I want you to think about that. Two days,” said Matthew Arrington.
The Arringtons say their 4-year-old son Chase now suffers extreme developmental delays because of Harding’s actions.
Chase was diagnosed with a brain bleed which they say the doctor said came from several instances of abuse.
Chase was under Harding’s care from April to July of 2020 before this diagnosis.
Arash Seratnahaei explained the same thing happened to their son while under Harding’s care, but over a decade ago.
“Landon was a healthy 9-month-old toddler. After we took him home from the hospital, he suffered severe headaches, severe vomiting, unable to eat and eventually we did get the MRI of the head which showed a severe head bleed nine days later and the reason why it took so long is because Susan Harding was not truthful with the ER staff,” said Seratnahaei.
Both mothers addressed Judge Goodman in court with emotional speeches. After they were done, the judge gave Harding her sentence — a sentence both sets of parents neither wanted nor expected.
Now, their message to others…
“I would encourage others to maybe dig a little deeper into who they choose to care for their children and definitely invest in some cameras if the child is in your own home,” said Miranda Binion.
