Woman Gets Life Term for Child Molestation at Day Care Center

HERTFORD, N.C. — A woman who worked at the Little Rascals day care center was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison after jurors convicted her of molesting children at the preschool.

Kathryn Dawn Wilson was the second of seven people to be tried in the case. Last year, the day care center’s co-owner, Robert F. Kelly Jr., was convicted of 99 counts of sexual abuse and sentenced to 12 consecutive life prison terms.

Wilson, 27, of Edenton, was convicted of five counts of sexual abuse involving children who attended the center, where she worked as a cook. The jury acquitted her on two other charges.

Wilson, who served about 16 months in prison while awaiting trial, must serve another 18 1/2 years before she will be eligible for parole. Her attorney said Wilson would appeal the conviction.

Four children who attended the center testified against Wilson during the trial, which began Nov. 2. They said she had sex with Kelly, 44, in front of one child and that she forced the children to perform sex acts.

Wilson was convicted on one count of first-degree sex offense and four counts of taking indecent liberties with children. She was acquitted of one count of first-degree sex offense and one count of the indecent liberties charge.

Five others await trial, including Kelly’s wife, Elizabeth.

The Kellys owned and operated the day care center from 1986 until 1989, when the state closed it.