Former Cobb day care employee accused of hitting, bruising 3-year-old boy

Je’neka Donielle Bland

Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office

Je’neka Donielle Bland

A former employee of a Cobb County day care center allegedly hit a 3-year-old, causing “extensive” bruising and “excessive physical or mental pain,” according to a warrant obtained by AJC.com.

Je’neka Donielle Bland admitted to her supervisor at Kids University of Marietta on Fairground Street that she may have caused the boy’s bruises by pinching him, the warrant said. She also admitted in a written statement that she broke the day care’s rules and Georgia state rules regarding day care facilities, according to the warrant.

Bland was allegedly seen on video hitting the boy on the head and putting her hand on his leg at least twice.

She has since been fired, the warrant said.

“I’ve met her. We talked several times. She was familiar with my son,” Megan Meeks, the mother of a 2-year-old enrolled at the day care, told Channel 2 Action News. “It’s disappointing, but sometimes you just don’t know people until something like this happens.”

Bland turned herself in on Wednesday on a charge of first-degree cruelty to children. She was released from the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on $4,000 bond.

In other news: