Oregon previously investigated woman accused of leaving kids to go tanning

By The Associated Press

BEND, Ore. (AP) — A Bend day care provider who has been accused of leaving seven children at her home day care while she went tanning was previously investigated by state officials.

January Neatherlin, 31, was charged Thursday with child neglect, reckless endangerment, and criminal mistreatment, The Bulletin reported. Neatherlin’s case also will be presented to a grand jury Tuesday.

She was arrested after police, acting on a tip, found seven children ranging from 6 month to 4 years alone in her home.

State records show that Neatherlin’s business, Little Giggles Daycare, was investigated twice since 2014 by state child welfare advocates. Despite the investigations, her business was still listed as an option for students at Oregon State University-Cascades.

Neatherlin took out a business license for Little Giggles in 2010, but that license lapsed in 2012 and was not renewed.

A day care license is only needed if a provider cares for more than three children. Neatherlin did not have such a license, leading to the state probes.

Neatherlin was first investigated by the Oregon Office of Child Care in 2014 after a citizen tip. She was found to be caring for more than three children and told to drop her client load. She was investigated for similar allegations in 2015, but officials found no evidence that she was caring for more than three children.

Neatherlin also avoided regulators at OSU-Cascades so she was on their list for subsidized child care. Christine Coffin, OSU-Cascades spokeswoman, said Thursday that Neatherlin has now been dropped from the list. Coffin said it was unclear how an unlicensed day care operation like Little Giggles got on the list in the first place.