OCALA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida day care worker was arrested Monday after detectives said she abused six babies at the facility.
According to Ocala police officers, they responded to a situation at the All Star Learning Academy on Silver Springs Boulevard on Monday following allegations of child abuse against 33-year-old Karla Penalverty-Gonzalez.
Investigators revealed multiple incidents between March and July, where Penalverty-Gonzalez is accused of mistreating six infants aged 4 to 9 months.
According to an arrest affidavit, a video showed Penalverty-Gonzalez “violently” bouncing a baby in a bouncer.
“This action was violent enough it could have caused severe injury or death by shaking baby syndrome,” the report said.
In a separate incident detailed in the affidavit, it is claimed that Penalverty-Gonzalez was sitting in a rocking chair when a child approached her, seeking to be picked up. She allegedly told the child to “leave her alone” and pushed the child away, causing the child to fall onto the floor.
Another worker checked on the child to make sure she was OK, the report said. The worker told officers that she reported the incident to management, but “did not see anything come of her report.”
Investigators said Penalverty-Gonzalez was involved in several other instances of physical harm, including rough handling, forced feeding, violent shaking and near suffocation.
According to police, the incidents were reported to supervisors, “but no appropriate action was taken to address the allegations in a timely manner.”
Penalverty-Gonzalez was taken into custody and charged with eight counts of child abuse and resisting arrest, according to court records.
Officers said Penalverty-Gonzalez had worked at the day care since July 2024.
The Department of Children and Families was contacted and will require remedial training for the daycare’s staff, police said.
Investigators said they believe there could be more victims and asked the public to come forward if they had witnessed any related incidents.
“These babies are too young to speak for themselves, and your voice is essential in protecting them,” police said in a Facebook post.
Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call detectives at 352-369-7000.
“Our hearts go out to these little babies and their families as we continue investigating to ensure justice and accountability,” the police department said.
