Texas daycare owner allegedly encouraged physical violence between two toddlers, and she’s now facing prison

Jennifer Ann Garrett, the owner of Gracious Beginnings Day Care in Hubbard, is now facing a serious third-degree felony charge after allegedly encouraging physical violence between two toddlers. Authorities arrested Garrett, and she currently faces up to 10 years in prison if she is convicted of injury to a child.

As reported by The Sun, the situation stems from an incident that reportedly took place at the childcare facility located about 25 miles south of Dallas. Investigators began looking into the matter after reviewing footage of the event, which paints a truly disturbing picture of what transpired on the playground. 

According to an arrest affidavit, seen by KWTX, Garrett initiated the interaction by grabbing the right arm of a two-year-old girl. She then placed her other hand on the back of a second toddler’s head. The affidavit claims that Garrett proceeded to physically manipulate the second girl’s head downwards while simultaneously raising the first child’s arm toward her mouth.

It’s still unclear if any of the toddlers were physically injured

It is alleged that Garrett used her left hand to hold the first toddler’s arm firmly in place, which prevented the child from pulling away as the second girl bit her. The report states, “Once Jane Doe #2 bit Jane Doe #1 on the lower part of her right arm between her wrist and her elbow Garrett then took her hand off the back of Jane Doe #2’s head,” according to the police claims. 

After the bite occurred, the child who performed the action reportedly pulled her head back and “took both of her hands up to the side of her own head as if she was upset,” the affidavit claims. Following this, Garrett allegedly continued to hold the arm of the first child before she “briskly walked her to the other side of the playground.”

It is worth noting that the affidavit does not explicitly state whether the toddler suffered a physical injury as a result of this encounter. Even with that uncertainty, the legal consequences for Garrett are significant. While she currently remains free on bond, the Department of Family and Protective Services is conducting its own investigation into the incident, as confirmed by Hill County District Attorney Mark Pratt.