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Investigators at shuttered day care after kids found there

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

A woman leaves with her child from Just For Kids day care.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 22, 2009

Updated: 06/22/2009 08:59 pm

A day care center on Busch Boulevard lost its license Friday, but investigators are now there after several kids were found at the center.

Dorothy Ann Sampson-Monroe, who claims to own the Just for Kids day care center, was not charged with a crime when investigators came to the center and saw the children. Sampson-Monroe claimed she was watching the children for free, and if her statement is true, that isn't legally considered operating a day care center without a license.

Linda Stoller, manager of the county's child care licensing program, said investigators saw three children at the center about 8 a.m. today.

When investigators returned about noon, there were six children at the center, Stoller said.

Inspectors have returned to the center this afternoon to try and check the woman's claims. At 4 p.m., there were still five children at the center, according to investigator Michael Bross. Parents were asked to fill out affidavits asking if the center is providing free day care.

Asked if the center staying open was legal, Bross said, "Because they're not charging any money, it is. I mean, it doesn't meet the definition of child care.''

Sampson-Monroe was arrested last week, accused of inappropriately disciplining four children there between the ages of 3 and 5. Her arrest Wednesday on four counts of child abuse is the latest in a string of arrests that dates back nearly 20 years and includes drug and credit card fraud convictions. In 2005, she was arrested, but ultimately not prosecuted, on suspicion of aggravated child abuse. And she was arrested this month on a driving under the influence charge.

Just for Kids lost its license last week, but not because of Sampson-Monroe's arrest.

The license was declared void because the woman listed as the owner on the license application said she is not involved with the business, Stoller said.

Stoller said Thursday that Sampson-Monroe didn't sign the application for the day care's license, which was issued Jan. 1. The center was listed as being owned by a corporation, Just for Kids Center LLC. Stoller said a woman named Carol Maultsby signed the application form, listing herself as partner-owner.

In an interview with the Tribune on Thursday, Maultsby said that while she signed a form, she never planned to run a day care. She and Sampson-Monroe spoke of being partners, with Sampson-Monroe running a day care and Maultsby running a day spa next to it.

Maultsby, who met Sampson-Monroe through church, said she walked away from the deal and has no business relationship with Sampson-Monroe.

Stoller said Friday that was enough to close the center.

"The applicant that had signed the application has said she was no longer affiliated with the corporation, which meant the license for that center is no longer valid," Stoller said last week.

News Channel 8 reporter Samara Sodos contributed to this report. Information from Tribune archives was used in this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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