DA: Day care worker charged for putting sleeping pills in kids' drinks

6:00 PM, Mar 21, 2013   |    comments
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SAN JOSE, CA (AP) - Prosecutors have formally charged a former day care worker accused of trying to slip sleeping pills to 10 children under the age of two.

Santa Clara County District Attorney office on Thursday charged 59-year-old Deborah Gratz with five misdemeanor counts of attempted child endangerment and five misdemeanor counts of assault.

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Gratz was fired from the Kiddie Academy childcare facility in Morgan Hill on Friday after a witness reported seeing her put something into the cups of several children right before their nap time. Police said Gratz told administrators she put an over-the-counter sleeping aid "Sominex" into the kids' drinks. The cups were confiscated before any child took a drink.

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Gratz worked at the facility since 2007. She is scheduled to enter a plea on March 26.

The Associated Press