Inset: Jennifer Hernandez (Dona Ana County Detention Center). Background: The Discovery Development Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico (Google Maps).
In New Mexico, a 27-year-old former Pre-K teacher faces accusations of child abuse after security footage reportedly captured her striking a young boy with various objects and slapping him. Jennifer Hernandez has been apprehended this week and is facing seven counts of intentional child abuse, as confirmed by local authorities.
Each of these charges against Hernandez is classified as a third-degree felony, which could lead to up to three years of imprisonment and fines reaching $5,000.
The Las Cruces Police Department shared in a news release that deputies from the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation at the Discovery Development Center, located on the 3300 block of Del Rey Boulevard, in late February. This inquiry began after a child’s parents reported their son had been mistreated by a daycare staff member.
Upon discovering that the victim resided outside their jurisdiction, investigators transferred the case to the Las Cruces Police Department.
A detective from LCPD then reviewed surveillance video from the daycare and allegedly witnessed multiple instances of “physical abuse inflicted by Hernandez on a boy under the age of 10,” as detailed in the police statement.
These alleged acts of abuse reportedly occurred during the early morning hours of December 9, 2025.
Police noted that despite the violent nature of the attacks, the victim did not suffer “great bodily harm.” The department also emphasized that the Discovery Development Center had been “extremely cooperative with the investigation.”
Court documents obtained by El Paso, Texas-based Fox affiliate KFOX provided additional details about the alleged attack on the child.
The documents alleged the footage showed Hernandez “picking up a blue chair with metal legs and striking the male child… in his chest with the metal chair leg.” She also struck the boy in the face “with an open hand” and hit him “in the head with a black and purple pointer.”
Later in the footage, Hernandez is allegedly shown hitting the boy with the pointer “until he falls to the ground.”
Hernandez was arrested on Wednesday and booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center. She was initially held without bond but was no longer listed as an inmate as of Friday afternoon, jail records showed.
Police said the investigation into the alleged abuse remains ongoing and additional charges against Hernandez are possible.
