Waukesha Police Found Unlocked Gun In The Lawrence School: DCF Records

WAUKESHA, WI — Police found a loaded gun and prescription drugs in an unlocked office during their search of The Lawrence School in Waukesha amid recent child abuse accusations, according to online records from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.

The private child care center, which catered mainly to children from 6 weeks to 12 years old, had its license revoked on Friday, a spokesperson for DCF told Patch. Heather M. Miller, a 48-year-old lead teacher who worked mainly with infants, has since been charged with child abuse - intentionally cause harm and second-degree recklessly endangering safety, according to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and online court records.

The charges and findings come after police said they executed a search warrant on Sept. 14 at the 3011 Saylesville Road daycare center. The warrant came after another teacher said they witnessed Miller slamming a boy who had special needs face-first into a crib and pushing down until he wheezed, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report citing a criminal complaint.

Miller appeared in Waukesha County Court on Monday where she said she did not have enough money to pay for an attorney, according to WTMJ. But she's not in jail anymore — she posted her $6,000 bail with help from her mother, the television station's report said.

Police said they took three other people besides Miller into custody during the search on possible charges of failure to protect, although all three were released. But the complaint does accuse the school's administration of failing to act after the child abuse allegations surfaced against Miller around Aug. 17, according to the Journal Sentinel.

The DCF also outlined administrative violations on its website on the day of the police search:

• "The administrative team of the center failed to ensure the safety and welfare of children in care, when they failed to properly investigate concerns brought to them regarding harmful actions of Staff B by other childcare workers in the center."
• "The center's administrative team failed to comply with all laws governing the facility when they failed to properly report suspected child abuse."

The school was previously a 4K elementary school site for the School District of Waukesha. District officials severed their relationship with the private school amid the accusations and announced plans for relocating students in the wake of the search last week.

If Miller ends up convicted she could face up to a 10-year prison term for the second-degree reckless endangerment of safety charge and up to six years for the child abuse charge, the Journal Sentinel reported.