A former pre-K teacher in Las Cruces, New Mexico, has been arrested and charged with several counts of child abuse, according to surveillance camera evidence that showed her physically abusing a young child at a daycare in the area, according to the Las Cruces Police Department.
Police arrested Jennifer Hernandez, 27, on Wednesday and charged her with seven counts of intentional child abuse, all third-degree felonies, according to the police.
How the Case Started: Parents Reported Suspected Abuse
According to reports, the case started in late February when a child’s parents went to the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office and told them that they suspected that a child was being abused, and that led to the start of the case. However, it is important to note that the abuse is alleged to have happened within the city limits, and that is why the case has been handed over to the Las Cruces police.
During the investigation, the police sought and obtained surveillance camera recordings from the Discovery Development Center, where the suspect used to teach a pre-K class.
Police reports indicate that the surveillance camera recordings showed several instances where a boy under the age of 10 was subjected to physical abuse. However, it is important to note that the abuse did not cause great bodily harm, according to the police.
All the instances that are alleged to have happened are said to have happened in the early hours of Dec. 9, 2025.
Surveillance Video Claims: Several Alleged Assaults
Police documents obtained by KFOX14 and CBS4 detail several instances captured in the video.
The police claim that the video shows Hernandez:
– Picked a chair and struck the boy using the metal legs
– Slapped the boy in the mouth and face several times
– Struck a child in the face and head using a pointer at least twice. In one instance, the boy fell to the ground after being struck
The police claim that all these instances happened while the child was in the daycare.
Arrest and Possibility of Additional Charges
Hernandez was arrested on Wednesday and taken to the Detention Center in Doña Ana County. She is to be held in custody without a bond.
The police also stated that the ownership and management of the Discovery Development Center have been cooperative throughout the investigation, as detectives examine all evidence.
The police ask that all those with additional information regarding the case contact the Las Cruces Police Department.
