A Knox County daycare owner accused of leaving children alone in a hot attic entered a guilty plea in court Wednesday.
Larinda Tuttle stood before a judge and entered a guilty plea to one count of criminal abuse in the second degree.
Tuttle was originally facing five counts of first degree criminal abuse.
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“Criminal abuse in the first degree requires an intentional act, criminal abuse in the second degree wanton conduct,” Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Brandon Jones said.
State inspectors came to Tuttle’s Great Start Educational Center in 2012 originally checking on a complaint that the daycare was unlicensed.
Investigators found five children blocked inside of a hot attic.
The temperatures in the attic were hotter than 100 degrees and it was full of broken glass, exposed nails and dead birds.
After entering her guilty plea, Tuttle didn’t want to speak on camera but she claimed her innocence during an interview in 2012.
“I would never hurt children, I haven’t in the past,” she said. “I love children and this is breaking my heart.”
Tuttle implied her daughter was caring for the kids when the state inspectors paid a visit.
“My daughter was scared,” she said. “I had stepped out for little bit and she just didn’t know what to do.”
The daycare is no longer open and investigators said the children who were in the attic were not seriously injured.
Tuttle is due back in court in August for her sentencing. If convicted she could face up to two years in prison.
