The state has temporarily shut down the Hippo Academy in Hutto following allegations of abuse. The owner, Jeannie Alcalar, denies any wrongdoing.
The 31-year old owner and her husband have since gone into seclusion at the request of their attorney, Howard Fomby. He says the couple has received death threats.
According to an affidavit from the state, Alcalar is accused of covering an infant’s face with a cloth, of putting pepper on an infant’s thumb and of allowing children to eat food off the floor. The affidavit also alleges her of slapping an infant and feeding hot sauce to children as a form of punishment.
People who live in the area say that they never had cause for concern.
“It’s just a little kids area,” said Miranda Salazar. “There’s just one classroom.”
The state has revoked the daycare’s license for 30 days to investigate. Alcalar’s attorney is petitioning for physical evidence that may prove his client’s innocence.
“They claim that they have the video,” Howard Fomby said. “They claim that they have hard evidence. But when we've asked repeatedly to turn it over or at least show it to us, they say that we have no right to see it.”
Fomby is also trying to prove that Alcalar was the victim of a vendetta among employees she was about to fire.
“The employees did tell parents that they in fact called Child Protective Services and made these allegations” he said.
KVUE News spoke to one parent from the school who did not want to appear on camera.
She is not sure what to think, but says she has been suspicious since her 11-month old started coming home with diarrhea.
The daycare took care of 22 children, between 6 weeks and 5 years of age.
It was doing so well that at one point expansion was a possibility.
