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Attorney calls child abuse allegations ‘baseless’

Bobby MagillPost Independent Staff

An attorney for Joyce Helen Pint, the Glenwood Springs Elementary School child care provider arrested for child abuse in November, denied the allegation against her Thursday, calling the circumstances leading to the arrest “very wrong.”Pint, 61, of New Castle, was arrested Nov. 22 and charged with Class 1 misdemeanor child abuse for allegedly pushing a toddler against a refrigerator during class on Nov. 17. Glenwood Springs Police Lt. Bill Kimminau said the child was not injured. “Joyce Pint has never abused anyone – child or adult,” Pint’s attorney, Denver lawyer Terrance R. Kelly, wrote in an e-mail Thursday. “At this stage, we do not know who made the misdemeanor child abuse allegations to law enforcement, the specific nature of the allegations, or the nature of the investigation that led to the filing of a child abuse claim.”Kelly called the situation a “tragic mistake” that has been “inflicted on a woman who does not have it in her to harm a child.””We intend to get to the bottom of this matter, and we fully expect to receive the cooperation of law enforcement and school officials in our efforts,” Kelly wrote. He said Pint was one of three regular child care providers for up to nine children who were infants no older than 3. Pint, he said, worked all day, while the other two employees split half-days. “If the school district had maintained surveillance cameras at its day care center, Ms. Pint’s innocence would be established,” Kelly wrote. “We are informed, however, that the school district did not do so. As a result, Ms. Pint is subjected to these baseless charges, brought before the criminal system and subjected to undeserved public notoriety. This is very, very wrong, and it can happen to anyone who takes care of the community’s children.”School officials would not comment on the matter, but Glenwood Elementary Assistant Principal Ted Donahue confirmed Wednesday that Pint is no longer employed at the school. Pint is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 19. If found guilty, she could face up to 18 months in prison and up to a $5,000 fine, said Assistant District Attorney Scott Turner. Contact Bobby Magill: 945-8515, ext. 520bmagill@postindependent.com


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