A Colorado daycare worker faces 51 criminal charges after slapping a toddler and directing a racial slur at the child, revealing a disturbing pattern of abuse that went unchecked for months at a Centennial childcare facility.
Key Takeaways
- Brandon Vigil, hired as a preschool teacher in February 2024, has been charged with 28 counts of child abuse and 23 counts of harassment after incidents at a Centennial, Colorado daycare.
- Vigil allegedly slapped a 2-year-old who “was not moving quickly enough” and used a racial slur when the child began crying.
- A teacher’s aide witnessed the September 5th incident and reported that Vigil had previously been verbally abusive to children.
- Facility footage reviewed by investigators revealed multiple instances of Vigil’s harmful and degrading behavior toward children in his care.
- Authorities have established a tip line seeking additional information from potential victims as the investigation continues.
Shocking Abuse Uncovered at Colorado Daycare
In another disturbing example of how our society continues to fail in protecting our most vulnerable citizens, former daycare worker Brandon Vigil now faces an astounding 51 criminal charges for alleged abuse of toddlers under his care. The incidents took place at a childcare facility in Centennial, Colorado, where Vigil worked as a preschool teacher since February 2024. According to reports, Vigil was fired just one day after a September 5th incident where he allegedly slapped a 2-year-old child and used a racial slur – behavior that appears to be just the tip of the iceberg in his treatment of children.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office reported that Vigil appeared “irritated and in a bad mood and was throwing things” during the incident that finally led to his termination. Investigators said he was throwing sleeping pads and other items in a classroom containing 14 toddlers. When a 2-year-old child didn’t move quickly enough for his liking, Vigil allegedly slapped the child. When the toddler began crying, instead of offering comfort, Vigil responded with a racial slur, demonstrating a shocking lack of basic human decency toward a child who was simply behaving like a normal toddler.
History of Abuse Finally Exposed
What’s particularly troubling about this case is how long Vigil’s alleged abuse continued before action was taken. The teacher’s aide who witnessed the September incident told investigators she was “shocked” by Vigil’s behavior, but also mentioned that he had been verbally abusive to children in the past. This raises serious questions about the daycare’s supervision and reporting protocols. How many children suffered unnecessarily because warning signs were ignored? Why was a teacher with apparent anger management issues allowed to continue working with vulnerable toddlers?
“The child began to cry, to which Vigil responded with a racial slur.”
Further investigation by law enforcement revealed the true extent of Vigil’s alleged misconduct. Upon reviewing facility footage, investigators discovered multiple instances of harmful and degrading behavior directed at children. Law enforcement noted that Vigil “appeared visibly upset that kids were in his way” on numerous occasions, suggesting a fundamental unsuitability for childcare work. The 51 charges – 28 counts of child abuse and 23 counts of harassment – indicate that these weren’t isolated incidents but rather a pattern of abusive behavior that affected multiple children.
Ongoing Investigation and Critical Questions
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office is working in collaboration with Colorado State Child Care Licensing and Administration and Arapahoe County Child Protection Services as the investigation continues. Authorities have established a tip line and are actively seeking additional information from the public, suggesting they believe there may be more victims or witnesses who haven’t yet come forward. Curiously, the affidavit in the court case is temporarily suppressed, and officials have not disclosed the specific daycare where these incidents occurred.
“was not moving quickly enough”
This case highlights critical failures in our childcare system that should concern every parent. How thoroughly was Vigil vetted before being entrusted with toddlers? What supervision was in place during his time at the facility? And perhaps most importantly, why did it take a physical assault to finally remove him from his position when verbal abuse had apparently been occurring previously? While we rightfully focus on the criminal charges against Vigil, we must also demand accountability from the daycare facility that allowed these children to be subjected to such treatment for months.
Sources:
- Colorado day care worker hit with 51 charges of child abuse, harassment for slapping toddler and hurling racial slur
- Former Centennial daycare worker arrested on 51 counts of child abuse, harassment
