A former Wheelersburg daycare worker will spend 30 days in jail after pleading no contest to child endangerment in a case involving a two-year-old child. Meanwhile, the child’s parent has filed a civil lawsuit against the daycare, the worker, and the Ohio Department of Medicaid.
Kylie Weeks, a former employee at Giggles & Wiggles daycare, entered a no contest plea on March 10 in Scioto County Municipal Court.
A judge sentenced Weeks to 180 days in jail with 150 days suspended, meaning she will serve 30 days, followed by three years of probation.
As part of the sentence, Weeks is barred from working at any daycare facility. She must also pay $130 in court costs and $360 per year in probation supervision fees. Weeks was represented by a public defender after being declared indigent.
The criminal case stems from an incident that occurred December 19, 2025 at the daycare’s Dogwood Ridge Road location in Wheelersburg.
Civil Lawsuit Filed
Following the criminal case, the child’s parent filed a lawsuit in Scioto County Common Pleas Court on behalf of the toddler.
The lawsuit names Giggles & Wiggles daycare, Kylie Weeks, and the Ohio Department of Medicaid as defendants.
According to the complaint, Weeks was working as a childcare aide responsible for supervising infants and toddlers when the incident occurred.
The filing states that around 4:10 p.m. on December 19, Weeks grabbed the two-year-old child by the neck and upper body, jerked the child upward, and slammed the child down onto a cot with force multiple times.
The child suffered a black eye, a busted lip, and a cut above the lip, according to the lawsuit.
The toddler was later treated at Southern Ohio Medical Center, where medical staff diagnosed minor head trauma and a lip abrasion. The emergency treatment cost $351, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit also states the child began showing behavioral changes afterward, including:
- Crying when dropped off at childcare
- Sleep disturbances
- Random screaming fits
- Delayed speech
- Reluctance to play independently
According to the filing, the daycare initially said the injuries occurred because the child fell, but surveillance video later showed the incident.
Claims Against the Daycare
The lawsuit argues the daycare itself should be held responsible for failing to properly screen and supervise employees.
According to the complaint, the facility:
- Failed to perform a required background check before hiring Weeks
- Ignored complaints about abusive behavior toward children
- Failed to investigate alleged drug use
- Allowed unsafe staff-to-child ratios
The lawsuit claims a proper background check would have revealed an open Child Protective Services case involving Weeks and her own children.
The complaint also alleges the daycare knew or should have known Weeks was using drugs and reporting to work impaired, but did not take action.
The filing references a December 9, 2025 inspection that reportedly found one staff member supervising seven infants, which the lawsuit says violates Ohio childcare staffing rules.
Why Medicaid Is Named
The Ohio Department of Medicaid is included in the lawsuit because the agency paid the child’s medical bills after the incident.
Under Ohio law, Medicaid can seek reimbursement from any financial recovery awarded in the case, which is why the agency must be listed as a party.
Damages Sought
The lawsuit asks the court to award more than $25,000 in damages, along with compensation for medical bills and potential future treatment such as counseling or therapy.
The filing also seeks damages for:
- The child’s physical pain and suffering
- The child’s emotional distress and behavioral changes
- The parent’s emotional trauma after seeing the incident
The plaintiffs have requested a jury trial.
The case will now move forward in Scioto County Common Pleas Court.
