A classroom incident at a childcare center in Raleigh has led to felony charges against a daycare employee after authorities say a young boy suffered a serious injury while under her supervision.
According to the New York Post, Ashley Nicole Taris, 24, is accused of fracturing a 4-year-old child’s leg during an interaction inside a classroom at KinderCare Day Care Center.
Investigators said the incident took place in August when the child was seated in the “crisscross applesauce” position — a common posture used in classrooms.
Police say the boy told them his teacher caused the injury while attempting to move him.
“That during class, Ms. Taris, his teacher, caused an injury to his leg while placing him in the ‘crisscross applesauce’ position,” officers wrote in an arrest warrant.
Prosecutors later alleged that the teacher acted aggressively during the interaction.
They said the boy had been sitting properly at the time, but was forcibly moved anyway.
The child reported feeling immediate pain. He told authorities he felt a burning sensation and was unable to walk after the incident. Medical evaluations determined the boy had suffered a fractured tibia. When questioned by investigators, Taris offered a different explanation.
She claimed she had been doing playful “donkey kicks” and accidentally fell onto the child’s leg.
However, prosecutors said the injury did not align with her version of events. As the investigation progressed, authorities initially issued a misdemeanor child abuse citation following the Aug. 22 incident.
Months later, the case took a more serious turn. Taris was arrested on April 7 after the charge was upgraded to felony child abuse.
Officials say she is no longer employed by KinderCare and has not worked at the facility since October 2025.
A spokesperson for the childcare provider confirmed she had been removed from the classroom during the investigation.
She had briefly remained on staff under a safety plan before state licensing officials determined she should no longer be allowed to teach while the case was being reviewed.
The incident remains under investigation as the case moves forward through the legal system.
