A former Omaha day care provider was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday.
Lynn Rowe pleaded no contest to child abuse in November. The case came to light last April when police received a complaint of child abuse that occurred at Lynn’s Learning Center in west Omaha.
The parents of the then 4-year old girl reported that daycare owner, Lynn Rowe, had physically abused their child in her care. The incident was caught on video. An employee sent the video to the victim’s mother which shows Rowe hitting the young girl. The victim's mother contacted police.
The girl’s mother, Kelley Meyers, addressed the court and her child’s abuser on Tuesday.
“One day she threw her on the ground at nap time and then told her she was naughty and no one liked her. Can you imagine being told that as a three year old by someone that you trust?”
Myers said Lynn Rowe was once a close friend to their family. Rowe tried to apologize in court.
“I take full responsibility” Rowe said through tears. “I’m truly sorry.”
The tears were not enough to persuade the judge; the defense asked for probation but Judge Derr sentenced Rowe to two years in prison.
"I'm glad that she has to take responsibility. I know it sounds stupid but she was part of our family. So I'm sad for her family, but I'm glad she's going to be punished for what happened," said Kelley Meyers. "She abused her power and the trust we placed in her to care for and teach our children. I have no idea of how many children Lynn may have abused in her 30 years of day care."
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services shut down Lynn's Learning Center.