SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. - A former childcare teacher from Hollister was charged Thursday for allegedly putting sleeping pills into toddlers' sippy cups at the Kiddie Academy Childcare facility in Morgan Hill.
Deborah Gratz, 59, was charged with five counts of attempted child endangerment and five counts of assault, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said.
Gratz started working at the Kiddie Academy in 2007. She supervised the naptimes of about 10 children between the ages of one and two. Officials at Kiddie Academy say she was fired on March 8.
According to the DA's office, another teacher observed Gratz putting Sominex into water cups of the children. The cups were confiscated before any children could drink from them. The DA's office said teachers found residue in five of the cups.
Gratz was arrested on Monday, March 11 by Morgan Hill Police and is out of custody on supervised release.
If convicted of all charges, Gratz faces jail time. She is scheduled to be arraigned on March 26.
Sominex is an over-the-counter sleeping aid. It contains a warning not give the product to children under 12.
Anyone with further information about this case is asked to contact Morgan Hill Police Detective Joe Burdick at (408) 779-2101. Anonymous tips may be left at (408) 947-7867.
