A daycare worker from Indiana accused of assaulting a two-year-old child has defended her actions with the jaw-dropping explanation that she didn’t hit the boy that hard.
Joyce Nicole Perkins, 31, faces charges of battery on a person less than 14 years old in the shocking and deeply disturbing incident that has sent ripples through the local community.
The alleged incident occurred on November 4, 2024, at Kiddie Academy of Greenwood, a daycare center nestled in the suburbs of Indianapolis.
It all began with an ordinary day at Kiddie Academy. But what unfolded next, captured on video, is anything but ordinary.
According to court documents, a two-year-old boy spat on Perkins while she was tending to another child.
The footage, which has since been reviewed by law enforcement with the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office, shows Perkins reacting with immediate violence.
In a move described as ‘instant’ in the probable cause affidavit, she allegedly slapped the toddler’s face with such force that he spun around and collided with a nearby cabinet.
‘I had to smack him because he spit all in my face,’ Perkins can reportedly be heard saying on the video. The audio also captures her expressing outrage, saying: ‘hell no’ and ‘ya, he spit in my face, I don’t do that.’
Joyce Nicole Perkins, 31, faces a charge of battery on a person less than 14 years old after she allegedly hit a two-year-old child, the act of which was caught on video
The alleged incident occurred on November 4, 2024, at Kiddie Academy of Greenwood, a daycare center nestled in the suburbs of Indianapolis
If the slap wasn’t horrifying enough, the video allegedly shows Perkins then grabbing the boy by his shirt and dragging him out of the room.
The daycare’s director acted swiftly, firing Perkins the very same day.
He also submitted the incriminating video footage to local authorities, setting the wheels of justice in motion.
The daycare center addressed the incident in a statement: ‘Recently, an isolated incident occurred involving a staff member who failed to meet our professional and ethical standards. We acted immediately, terminating her employment and reporting the matter to the Department of Child Services (DCS).’
The incident has been reported to two state agencies, and a thorough investigation by the state licensing authority has confirmed the daycare’s actions were appropriate.
The shocking details of this case have left many parents questioning the safety of their children in such facilities.
In a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Perkins attempted to explain her actions.
Speaking to a detective who spoke to her earlier this week, she allegedly described her reaction to being spat on as a ‘reflection, a reflex.’
‘Speaking generally, video evidence is very strong evidence, and it’s good to have it,’ Johnson County prosecutor Lance Hamner, pictured, told WRTV
The shocking and deeply disturbing incident has sent ripples through the local community
Video evidence taken at the daycare has only served to bolster the case against Perkins
Astonishingly, she downplayed the incident, claiming, ‘I didn’t hit him bad, you know, I just gave him a little small tap. He didn’t cry or nothing.’
Perkins allegedly went on to say that the boy had been ‘acting up’ that day, throwing toys and refusing to help clean up when asked.
She reportedly justified her behavior by adding, ‘He was the one spitting on me, and that’s battery too.’
The detective’s response was cutting: ‘The boy is only two years old.’
But Perkins remained undeterred still seemingly justifying her actions, allegedly repeating, ‘It was my mother’s instinct to react. He didn’t cry or nothing.’
The video evidence has not only appalled the local community but also bolstered the case against Perkins.
‘Speaking generally, video evidence is very strong evidence, and it’s good to have it,’ Johnson County prosecutor Lance Hamner told WRTV.
‘As a prosecutor, our job is to protect. It’s not to just enforce the law. The job requires we use the law to protect people.’
Perkins has not been detained, according to jail records but the investigation remains active.
