Clayton News Daily

By Linda Looney-Bond

lbond@news-daily.com

A Jonesboro daycare worker, who is charged with cruelty to children for allegedly dislocating the elbow of a child in her care, has been granted bond -- with conditions.

During a first appearance hearing in Clayton County Magistrate Court Friday, Ashley Nicole Beck, 21, of Jonesboro, was granted a $5,000 bond on a cruelty to children charge, as well as a $5,000 bond on a charge of making false statements, according to court records. Both charges are felonies.

According to Lt. Wayne Woods, of the Jonesboro Police Department, police arrested Beck Thursday, following an investigation into the Sept. 16 incident at the Learn and Play Academy, located at 106 Gloria Drive, in Jonesboro.

According to court documents, Beck "maliciously" picked up a 2-year-old boy by his right arm while the boy was being awakened from a nap, causing what is known as "Nursemaid's Elbow."

The incident was captured on video tape, according to court documents.

The special conditions of Beck's bond state that she must "stay away, absolutely, directly or indirectly, by mail, e-mail, pager, telephone or third person, from the person, home, work place and immediate family members of [the child]."

The bond conditions also require that Beck "not work at any daycare or child care facility" while the case is pending.

Beck had not bonded out of jail by Friday evening, according to jail officials. She is scheduled to appear in Magistrate Court for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 8, at 8 a.m..