The Central District Court in Lod sentenced Shelly Sheinker, an assistant at the 'Transparent Kindergarten' kindergarten in Netanya, to 7 years in prison today (Monday), who was convicted of multiple acts of abuse and assault against 12 toddlers, ranging in age from seven months to one and a half years.
Want to hold a 'captive redemption' in the most elegant way? Only with 'Yad L'Achim' • Mekdem
The court also ordered Scheinker to pay compensation to the parents in a total amount of 300,000 NIS.
Attorney Ofir Fahima of the Central District Attorney's Office said after the verdict: "Shelly Scheinker carried out the attacks and abuse systematically and cruelly, humiliating, demeaning, exploiting her power and terrorizing tender and helpless toddlers, who cannot defend themselves or express in words what was done to them. While she was entrusted with their safety, she took advantage of their weakness and harmed them, both physically and mentally.
""The prosecution's punitive stance was to sentence her to 10 years in prison in order to convey a message that harming helpless children, in a place that is supposed to be a safe and protected environment for them, and violating the trust that parents place in those who are entrusted with what is most precious to them - require significant punishment and the full implementation of the law.".
""We will study the verdict and consider whether there is room to file an appeal. From this, we strengthen the brave parents who came to all the hearings and accompanied them throughout the trial, and we hope that after the verdict, they will begin, together with their children, as much as possible, a process of healing and rehabilitation.".
Shelly Scheinker was convicted of committing numerous offenses of abuse of a helpless minor by a responsible person, assault of a helpless person by a responsible person causing actual bodily harm, and assault under aggravated circumstances.
The indictment filed by the Central District Attorney's Office describes how Scheinker, on about 60 different occasions, pushed the toddlers, hit them, slapped them, pulled their hair and ignored the toddlers' cries. On other occasions, she kicked them with her legs, pinched them and grabbed them tightly in the face.
She also used to pull or lift the toddlers by one hand or arm and throw them hard, even while they were sleeping. In other cases, she sprayed cleaning fluid at the toddlers and dragged a chair and pushed a toddler crawling on the floor with it. The incidents were recorded on security cameras.
The court noted in the sentence that acts of abuse and violence against minors are extremely high, especially when they are committed by the person entrusted with the protection and well-being of the minor.
The court also noted that, unfortunately, despite the significant increase in punishment, kindergarten teachers and caregivers still continue to commit serious violent offenses against young toddlers.
The court took into account the defendant's personal data, as revealed by the probation service's report, and, as stated, sentenced her to 7 years in prison, probation, and significant compensation.
