Woman Accused of Sexually Abusing Children at Her Day Care Gets 30 Days in Jail

[Deus Mortis]

https://people.com/crime/woman-accus...-days-in-jail/

A 52-year-old Ohio woman accused of abusing children at a non-registered day care she operated was sentenced this week to 30 days in jail as part of a plea deal to a lesser charge.

Kimberly Hignite entered guilty pleas Monday to 14 individual counts of misdemeanor child endangerment, according to reports.

More than a year ago, Hignite was indicted on five counts of gross sexual imposition and 17 counts of child endangerment for allegedly engaging in sexual misconduct with children in her care between February 2011 and May 2018.

Three of the gross sexual imposition charges and five of the child endangerment charges were dismissed under the terms of the plea agreement.

Two sexual misconduct charges were also reduced to child endangerment charges, reports WSYX.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that several victims and their parents were in attendance for Monday’s hearing in Franklin County Common Pleas courtroom.

Police searched Hignite’s home in Grove City in May 2018 after receiving complaints from two children enrolled in her unlicensed day care.

During the search, the Dispatch reports 23 children were found, but Hignite was out, having left her 71-year-old mother to watch the children.

The children ranged in age from 7 months to 5 years, according to WBNS.

Some of the children were discovered strapped into car seats and abandoned in various rooms throughout the house.

This is fucked up.

Edit: https://nypost.com/2019/07/16/daycar...slap-on-wrist/

At least three kids were sexually abused, with prosecutors accusing Hignite of making them play the “silly private game” — which involved forced sexual touching.

“Miss Kim forced them to play using a tan and blue game board with pictures of private parts and a red spinner,” recalled another mother. “Your Honor, the sound of my autistic son and little girl being able to describe what that grown woman’s vagina looks like and feels like, is something we regrettably will never be able to forget, and honestly something that I can never forgive.”

Edit 2:

Stick to the case and drop gender discussion (which includes speculation about gender-based sentencing).

[Jonnusthegreat]

It's very well documented that females get significantly smaller sentences than males. #patriarchy

[Saucexorzski]

It seems they couldn't prove the sexual part of the charges but had proof to corroborate the child endangerment part, that being leaving kids strapped in car seats. I do think 30 days seems light but plea deal sooo I'm not leaning toward the less charges for female here.

[Socialhealer]

30 days? and women say LOL men you have life easy.

Women LOL you have life easy, want to commit crimes? go ahead jail is basically non fucking existent for you.

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sooo I'm not leaning toward the less charges for female here.

You don't need to, it's common knowledge and a proven fact.

I don't see feminists campaigning for equal jail time though O.o

i don't care what gender you are, 30 days for treating multiple children like this is an insult.

[Ghostpanther]

She was accused of sexually abusing them. Not convicted of it. But 30 days in the jail seems to be too lenient.

Kimberly Hignite entered guilty pleas Monday to 14 individual counts of misdemeanor child endangerment which appears what she was convicted of.

[Derpling]

Well, this thread is going to get incredibly neckbeardy.

[breslin]

Well, this thread is going to get incredibly neckbeardy.

Yea those damn neckbeards being all anti pedophilia, how unprogressive of them

[shadowmouse]

@Deus Mortis Alright, this is definitely fucked up:

At least three kids were sexually abused, with prosecutors accusing Hignite of making them play the “silly private game” — which involved forced sexual touching.

“Miss Kim forced them to play using a tan and blue game board with pictures of private parts and a red spinner,” recalled another mother. “Your Honor, the sound of my autistic son and little girl being able to describe what that grown woman’s vagina looks like and feels like, is something we regrettably will never be able to forget, and honestly something that I can never forgive.”
...
Despite the allegations, prosecutors allowed Hignite to skate on the plea deal — which also requires her to pay for her incarceration, along with a $4,200 fine. They told WBNS that one reason they agreed to dismiss most of the charges was because some of the alleged victims’ families weren’t cooperating with the district attorney’s office.

Source: https://nypost.com/2019/07/16/daycar...slap-on-wrist/

A bad case of TMI in that article, but it is interesting to see the prosecution's reason for a deal that they have to have known was going to light up the news.

[Deus Mortis]

@Deus Mortis Alright, this is definitely fucked up:


Source: https://nypost.com/2019/07/16/daycar...slap-on-wrist/

A bad case of TMI in that article, but it is interesting to see the prosecution's reason for a deal that they have to have known was going to light up the news.

Thanks for the information I will add it to the op.

[Flarelaine]

Stick to the case and drop gender discussion (which includes speculation about gender-based sentencing).

[Evil Midnight Bomber]

Was the Prosecutor Alex Acosta?

edit: I retract that...apparently one of the reasons they made the plea deal was because some of the victims families were not cooperating with the DA.

From the NY post article:

Despite the allegations, prosecutors allowed Hignite to skate on the plea deal — which also requires her to pay for her incarceration, along with a $4,200 fine. They told WBNS that one reason they agreed to dismiss most of the charges was because some of the alleged victims’ families weren’t cooperating with the district attorney’s office.

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It's very well documented that females get significantly smaller sentences than males. #patriarchy

Tell that to Jeffrey Epstein.

[Amerissis]

It's very well documented that females get significantly smaller sentences than males. #patriarchy

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-a9004486.html

This 28 year old teacher got 20 years for having consentual sex with a 13 year old boy. That’s even more ridiculous.

[Celista]

I didn't realize this before starting work with children but abuse is more common than I previously realized, people are pretty open about it (I have had two moms tell me that they committed acts that were legally considered physical assault like it was no big deal) but getting DCFS + legal action is very, very difficult. It's practically a miracle to get DCFS to act and for sentencing to happen. The cases where child protective agencies get involved and people go to prison are basically the worst offenders by the people stupid/blatant enough to get caught.

[shadowmouse]

@Deus Mortis De nada. Thanks for updating the OP so there is more information.
@Celista It has never ceased to amaze me the degree to which some parents think the tough love shtick, and similar excuses, create a parental exception to abuse. In this case, however, I don't see any way to view using spin the bottle style "games" to get kids to touch her genitals as anything that can be claimed to be other than outright pedophilia. This is one where (it won't happen, the mental health system is too underfunded) the danger she poses to kids in the future should get her mandatory and ongoing treatment for her disorder -- regardless of what the legal system does.

[Lynarii]

The problem here is that she can only be sentenced for what she's convicted of. She wasn't convicted of sexually abusing children, ergo she can't be given a sentence that reflects the severity of such abuse.

The important question is not 'why is the sentence so low', but 'why did they drop the more serious charges'? And it sounds like that reason is that the families of the victims weren't cooperating with the DA. The story is vague on what is meant by 'not cooperating', but at a basic level if people aren't willing to get on the stand and testify to the court about what happened, then the jury isn't going to find someone guilty of something. Media stories about the events aren't exactly court-admissible evidence.

[Jonnusthegreat]

Tell that to Jeffrey Epstein.

Oh my mistake, I missed the part in the article that stated she was a billionaire running a day care.

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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-a9004486.html

This 28 year old teacher got 20 years for having consentual sex with a 13 year old boy. That’s even more ridiculous.

Sex laws are so fucked up in general.

[zenkai]

Stick to the case and drop gender discussion (which includes speculation about gender-based sentencing).

Can I get a clarification just to avoid surprise infractions? I assumed gender discussion was talking about the difference between females and males as in why some traits are different than others, not the difference between the way they are treated by society. This is why we are allowed to discuss social issues such as pay gaps.


Race discussion is forbidden but yet we are allowed to talk about why some races have a difference in prison sentences.

So I beg clarification, either both should be forbidden or both be be allowed in this context.

Not trying to start shit or be an ass I am genuinely confused a the difference.

Thanks

[Ghostpanther]

Can I get a clarification just to avoid surprise infractions? I assumed gender discussion was talking about the difference between females and males as in why some traits are different than others, not the difference between the way they are treated by society. This is why we are allowed to discuss social issues such as pay gaps.


Race discussion is forbidden but yet we are allowed to talk about why some races have a difference in prison sentences.

So I beg clarification, either both should be forbidden or both be be allowed in this context.

Not trying to start shit or be an ass I am genuinely confused a the difference.

Thanks

And those are really good questions. It seems to vary.

[Kathandira]

She should be put away for much longer than 30 days. Not sure if this is already in place, but she should also be barred from working with children ever again, and be required to be a registered sex offender.

[dope_danny]

Take THAT patriar- wait what?