Ohio judge sentences ex-day care worker to jail for giving kids supplement to make them sleep

Jail for Ohio woman who gave kids sleep supplement

CINCINNATI — A former Ohio church day care worker has received a jail sentence for slipping an over-the-counter dietary supplement into candy she gave to children to get them to sleep at nap time.

Fifty-six-year-old Pamela Hartley of the Cincinnati area was convicted in May of three counts of child endangering and three counts of misrepresentation by a child care provider. Hamilton County Municipal Judge Melissa Powers sentenced her Wednesday to six months, but suspended all but 30 days and put her on three years’ probation afterward.

Powers said Hartley was giving melatonin to children at the suburban church day care to make her job easier. Powers ordered her not to work as a child care provider again.

There was no answer to a call to her attorney’s office.