Charlotte daycare director charged with child abuse waives right to lawyer, trial scheduled
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Charlotte daycare director charged with child abuse appeared in a Mecklenburg County courtroom on Tuesday morning.
According to arrest warrants, Leslye Denise Torrence was taken into custody on Friday, March 8, and charged with six counts of misdemeanor child abuse.
On Tuesday, April 9, Torrence waived her right to counsel, meaning she refused to have representation/a lawyer assist her in this case. A bench trial, which is a type of trial that does not involve a jury, has been scheduled for mid-July, according to court documents.
Torrence is the director at Midwood Learning Academy Daycare, located in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood of Charlotte. Part of the daycare was shut down by the state this year over health and safety concerns.
Torrence is accused of “transporting the victim(s) in a vehicle without a car seat or seatbelt and the rear driver’s side door left open while the vehicle was in motion,” according to an arrest warrant. CMPD’s police report states that six children, all 3 to 4 years old, were observed in a vehicle unattended at a public park/playground in the 2100 block of N. Davidson Street.
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The police report stated, “The caller said the subjects (children) were in the care of daycare workers and did not have proper car seats. The subjects also drove away in a reckless manner with children unsecured in the vehicle.”
In February, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services informed Midwood Learning Academy that it had to close at the end of the day on Monday, Feb. 26. The department sent the business, 2519 Central Ave., the following message:
“On February 23, 2024, the Division of Child Development and Early Education received information related to the health and safety of children at Midwood Learning Academy. Based on information received, the Division has determined that emergency action is required to protect the health, safety, and welfare of children.”
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According to NCDHHS, Midwood Learning Academy has two separate licenses and two separate street addresses. One of them is right next to the other.
The location at 2519 was ordered to shut down after the Division of Child Development and Early Education received a complaint concerning the health and safety of the children there.
The action was taken immediately. Midwood Learning Academy’s website says the account has expired. The daycare’s inspection history shows in May 2023 they had one violation, which was corrected during the visit. Further back in January of 2023, it’s noted staff didn’t complete first aid or CPR training, and only one staff member did for six children less than one-year-old.
The Charlotte daycare has seemingly deleted its website and all social media pages.
Court documents show Torrence’s bond was set at $60,000 on March 8.
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