Former Paragould Day Care Worker Accused of Pushing 4-Year-Old, Charged With Battery

PARAGOULD, Ark. — A former day care worker in Paragould is facing a felony charge after police say she forcefully pushed a young child to the ground on a playground.

According to a probable cause affidavit from the Paragould Police Department, officers were dispatched to ARKIDS Day Care Center on April 17 following a report that a teacher had pushed a child. Staff at the facility, located on U.S. Highway 49 South, told officers the employee, identified as Jessica Hodges, had been immediately fired after the incident.

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Police reviewed surveillance footage, which reportedly showed Hodges pushing a 4-year-old child to the ground twice. Officers said the child confirmed that being pushed had hurt.

Authorities later located Hodges at her residence. She was taken into custody and transported to the Paragould Police Department for questioning. During a Miranda-read interview, Hodges made statements admitting to the incident, according to the affidavit.

Hodges is being charged with second-degree battery, a Class D felony.

5-13-202. Battery in the second degree.
(a) A person commits battery in the second degree if:
(4) The person knowingly, without legal justification, causes physical injury to or
incapacitates a person he or she knows to be:
(C) An individual sixty (60) years of age or older or twelve (12) years of age or younger;
(2) Otherwise, battery in the second degree is a Class D felony.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.