Two Copper Mountain child-care workers are accused of posing infants for provocative photos, and a supervisor failed to report the incident promptly, according to an order from a state agency shutting the ski-resort day-care facility.
The allegations against the unidentified employees of the Pumpkin Patch day-care center were brought to the attention of the Colorado Department of Human Services on March 27, which shut the facility over the weekend.
The two staff members took photos of a crying infant whose hand was posed with its middle finger up and of another baby who had been stripped and posed bending over, according to the order of summary suspension by Stephan K. Bates, director of the state Office of Children, Youth and Family Services.
“The staff persons involved in the incidents have admitted that they took photos of the naked baby in a sexually suggestive pose, took a photo of the baby with a cigarette in its mouth and took photos of two babies looking like they were fighting,” Bates wrote.
The order indicates staff members also kept “inappropriate magazines” in the infant room, watched movies and used personal computers while they were responsible for supervising infants and may have e-mailed the photos of the infants to others.
Summit County officials are investigating the allegations, and Sheriff’s Detective Amy Nordeen is scheduled to meet with prosecutors today to consider criminal charges.
Copper Mountain has suspended the two employees and a third staff member, as well as the child-care center director, Anneke Crowe, who is accused of “personally interviewing staff involved rather than allowing the county to conduct its investigation.”
State law requires that allegations of child abuse be reported to authorities immediately.
Pending a hearing before an administrative law judge, Copper Mountain has closed the facility, which is licensed for 44 children and is used mostly by resort employees.
Resort spokesman Matt Sugar indicated the ski company is cooperating with the investigation and that the accounts of the employees’ actions are only allegations.
Staff writer Steve Lipsher can be reached at 970-513-9495 or at slipsher@denverpost.com.
