Page 38 - Florida Sentinel 9-2-22

Crime 2nd Daycare Worker Charged
Federal Jury In Tampa Finds Man Guilty Of Hate Crime
With Child Abuse
A Federal Jury in Tampa has found a 29-year-old man guilty of a racially motivated hate crime.
The guilty verdict was brought against Jordan Patrick Leahy, for racially attacking a Black man and his family as they traveled along a public roadway after a family outing on August 8, 2021.
The Black man, identified only as J. T., was with his daughter and girlfriend, when Leahy came upon them and started threaten- ing them and using racial slurs. Leahy used his vehi- cle in an attempt to force J. T.’s car off the road. After
slurs and attempted to as- saultJ.T.ButJ.T.–a mixed-martial artist fighter – fought back, restraining his attacker and placing him in a chokehold until law en- forcement arrived.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Units arrived on the scene to investigate. The case was also investigated by the FBI and the Florida Highway Pa- trol.
Leahy faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of super- vised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Leahy was re- manded to the custody of the U. S. Marshals pending sen- tencing.
TARA BALLOU
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s detectives have ar- rested a second daycare worker after learning of abuse to a child at the school. The incident took place on the same day as the co-owner was arrested.
On Monday, June 20, 2022, Tara Ballou, a teacher and employee of Children’s Land of Imagina- tion Academy, was seen physically abusing a child. In surveillance video obtained by HCSO detectives, the 28- year-old instructor, in an at- tempt to put a child down for a nap, can be seen forcefully pushing and pulling the child’s arms, legs, head, and neck with her hands. She also placed her left leg across the top of the victim’s body to hold him down. The child vic- tim was crying and flailing his legs throughout the inci- dent. This happened approx- imately half an hour before Rong Liu, the co-owner of the daycare, attempted simi- lar tactics on a child to get him to nap.
On Tuesday, August 23, 2022, deputies arrested Tara Ballou and charged her with child abuse. This is just 4 days after her boss, Rong Liu was also arrested and charged with Child Abuse.
On Monday, June 20,
RONG LIU
2022, the owner and director of Children’s Land of Imagi- nation Academy, Rong Liu, was reported to have been physically abusive to a child under her care.
After completing the in- vestigation, deputies arrested Rong Liu on August 19, 2022, and charged her with child abuse.
Hillsborough County
Sheriff Chad Chronister
said, “It is sickening to hear that the person responsible for dozens of children at day- care would inflict this type of punishment on the vulnera- ble persons in her care.”
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s detectives have ar- rested a second suspect for child abuse at a daycare where the co-owner was first charged.
Sheriff Chronister
said, “The arrest of a second person in this case shows the dedication our investigators have in seeking out those who harm the innocent and vulnerable.”
“The video is hard to watch, but gives us a clear view of the mistreatment happening under their watch. We ask all parents who feel their children may have been victims of abuse at this day- care to talk with our detec- tives.”
JORDAN PATRICK LEAHY
following the family for more than a mile, Leahy side- swiped J. T.’s vehicle. Leahy fled but at the next light, got out of his vehicle and continued the racial
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