National News
Women with criminal records running day care center
April 28, 2015 posted by Steve Brownstein
Two people running a day care/preschool in northern Stark County have been arrested multiple times on DUI charges and for other criminal offenses.
Although none of the offenses disqualifies them from running the facility by state law, some parents have expressed concern.
Maria Matthews, introduced to parents as co-owner of Children’s Playhouse on Cleveland Avenue Northwest in Lake Township, has served 119 days behind bars and/or in involuntary treatment programs.
Her business partner, Tara Catsonis, has been incarcerated for 33 days.
Catsonis said last week that their driving records have no impact on their handling of children, and that the whistle-blower was a woman who was angry that the center wouldn’t violate state rules about food preparation.
She said her personal history “does not affect my ability to do my job and love these children, or Maria’s. Everyone has a past.”
In mid-October, the two formed a limited liability corporation called Hope’s Anchor in preparation for taking over the 14-year-old business.
According to the Stark County Auditor’s Office, sale of the building was completed Jan. 23, with Hope’s Anchor paying $95,000 to former owners Jennifer Schmidt Everetts and her husband, Donald. It is unclear whether that figure included the price of the business.
Child care centers are licensed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Its database does not show a license for the current owners.
When asked about the center’s licensing status, the state agency said it would look into the situation; it hadn’t finished investigating as of this writing.
“In general, it is considered a change of ownership when a child-care center or entity that owns a child-care center is sold,” Ohio department spokesman Benjamin Johnson said in an email.
“The new owner would be required to complete the ODJFS licensing process. There is no grace period, but as long as the new owner is working in good faith to quickly obtain a license, we usually do not close the center.
“All child-care center employees and administrators, including owners who work on-site, must pass FBI and BCI background checks.”
Prohibited offenses include two DUIs within the five-year period immediately preceding the date of the license application. Neither woman fits that description.
On April 16, Matthews, 31, was found guilty of her third DUI. She was stopped Feb. 23 in Massillon and recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.159, nearly double the legal limit.
She was sentenced to 10 days in jail, 30 days of house arrest with a rehab program and 100 hours of community service.
Her second conviction came in July 2005, when she was stopped for speeding and weaving. That DUI resulted in 48 days of confinement because she kept failing to show up for court, jail and treatment.
In February 2006, Matthews was convicted of driving under a license suspension that was triggered by the 2005 DUI. She served eight days in jail, then 20 more days when she failed to show up for court-ordered community service.
Her first DUI occurred in Cuyahoga Falls in 2003.
Between 2002 and 2004, Matthews was arrested at least three times for underage drinking, according to court records.
A 2005 marijuana charge was dismissed. Her lawyer made a motion to seal the record, but Matthews failed to attend the sealing hearing, so it remains in public view.
Catsonis, 32, received her second DUI in May 2009 after being pulled over by Massillon police for driving with her headlights off. She served 30 days in a treatment program in the Stark County Jail and was required to complete 80 hours of community service with the Massillon Boys and Girls Club.
In January 2006, Catsonis was convicted of disorderly conduct after an incident in Athens.
Her first DUI came in 2004, when her blood-alcohol reading was 0.1380.
Catsonis said her record and Matthews’ would not come as a surprise to most of the parents.
“We’ve actually talked to a lot of our parents about it. ...”
“I would say most of the families know about everything that’s going on here — about my past, about Maria’s past, and we love their children and do a fantastic job here every day, and we’re teaching them things they’ve not learned before and preparing them for preschool, and I think it’s a shame what ... this woman is trying to do.”
When asked whether she and Matthews have applied for a child care license, Catsonis replied, “I’m not going to answer that question because we’re doing everything we need to do to keep this building and business legal. So no one needs to worry about that.”
She declined to reveal how many children are enrolled or their age range. The number of employees also is unclear.
Catsonis said she and Matthews have “known each other for a very long time,” but declined to elaborate. When asked whether they are co-owners, she replied, “Sort of.”
Matthews is scheduled to begin her term at the Stark County Jail on May 19. Her house arrest begins in August. A message left on her cellphone was not returned.
Former owner Jennifer Schmidt Everetts did not respond to a request for an interview sent through her Facebook page.
