Daycare Assistant Sentenced to 7 Years for Abusing 12 Infants

A daycare assistant in Netanya has been sentenced to seven years in prison for abusing and assaulting 12 infants, aged seven months to 1.5 years old. The Central District Court in Lod convicted the assistant of approximately 60 counts of abuse and assault, describing her actions as severe violence against defenseless children.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the defendant to pay 300,000 shekels in compensation to the children's parents. The prosecution had sought a 10-year sentence and stated they are considering an appeal, arguing the sentence was too lenient given the severity of the crimes.

Prosecutors described the assistant's actions as systematic and cruel, involving humiliation, exploitation of her authority, and terrorizing the infants. The indictment detailed incidents where she pushed, hit, slapped, pulled hair, ignored crying, kicked, pinched, and grabbed the infants' faces. She also threw them forcefully, sometimes while they were sleeping, sprayed cleaning fluid at them, and pushed a chair into a crawling infant.

These acts were documented by security cameras. The court emphasized the extreme severity of abuse against minors, especially by those entrusted with their care. Despite a trend towards harsher sentencing, such offenses by caregivers continue. The court considered the defendant's personal circumstances, as detailed in a probation service report, before imposing the sentence, which also includes a suspended sentence and significant compensation.

The prosecution expressed hope that the parents, who attended all hearings, can begin a healing process with their children.