A 30-year-old Minnesota native has been arrested on child sex abuse charges. Tawny Symonds was arrested by Mason City police on the morning of December 21st, following a 10-month investigation into allegations of abuse harking back to February of this year.
The victim, a child under the age of 3, was an attendant of Ms. Symond’s home-based daycare service. Back in February, the Iowa Department of Human Services revoked the daycare’s license due to non-compliance. The department stated the revocation of the daycare’s license was due to the owner violating the safety plan put in place when she had an unnamed male in the premises when she had stated and agreed that he would not be there.
Symonds — who is being held at the Cerro Gordo County Jail — allegedly sexually victimized one of the children in her care, with charges of felony second-degree sex abuse, child endangerment, and sexual assault being brought up against her.
Tip Prompted Investigations
Police commenced their investigation when they got a tip from the Iowa Department of Human Services. In addition, Ms. Symonds received a complaint from the department which warned her that the childcare center would be closed, or other legal avenues taken, should she continue to offer childcare services.
Lengthy Prison Sentence If Convicted
The man who was not allowed to be within the childcare’s vicinity that Ms. Symonds had over is not thought to have harmed the children in any manner. The police also added that only one child was harmed and that they believe no other children were abused. If she is convicted, Ms. Symonds could face up to 4 decades in prison for her actions.