Former Oklahoma daycare operator gets suspended sentence for abusing autistic child

TULSA, Okla. — The former director of Commerce’s Tiny Tigers Daycare received a five-year suspended sentence for forcing food down the throat of a 4-year-old severely autistic child in her care.

Rachel Waynett Bear, 42, of Miami, pleaded guilty to child abuse in Indian Country last December. U.S. District Judge Sara Hill also fined Bear $100, according to the sentencing document.

The plea agreement recommended Bear receive five years of supervised release, undergo drug and alcohol treatment, take parenting classes and was ordered to stay away from the child until she completed the treatment and parenting class.

Bear’s attorneys argued for five years of supervised release, according to the six-page sentencing memorandum.

What happened?

Indian Child Welfare workers placed the victim and a sibling with their father and Bear, who were in a relationship and living together at the time of the abuse, according to the memorandum.

Bear considers this day as the “best day of her life,” referring to the day the children came to live with her and their father, the memorandum stated.

“She saw the children as a blessing that she was never afforded to have. She loved watching them grow and learn and worked hard to accomplish milestones in a timely manner,” according to the court document.

Bear, who has worked in childcare for 23 years, was seen on surveillance video at Tiny Tigers Daycare abusing the child.

The surveillance footage shows the child struggling and crying, according to court records.

Bear reportedly said to Quapaw Nation investigators that shoveling food in the child’s mouth was the way the child had to be persuaded to eat and she slapped the child’s hand because the child tried to bite her, court records show.

Day care workers told Quapaw Nation Marshals that Bear repeatedly slapped the victim’s face and allegedly said, “I hate that little f****** b****” and “I don’t want to be with [the victim] alone because I don’t know what I would do to her.”

When confronted by Marshals, Bear denied the day care workers allegations.

After charges were filed, a no-contact order prohibited Bear from seeing the children and their father. At Tuesday’s hearing the no-contact order was lifted.

“In hopes of one day returning to her relationship with (the children’s father) and the children, Rachel completed a parenting skills course through Family and Childrens Services and underwent a drug and alcohol assessment,” the memorandum states.

Grand River Mental Health determined Bear did not require drug or alcohol services.

”If the Court accepts the plea agreement, it will then be up to ICW (Indian Child Welfare) and U.S. Probation to decide if Rachel can return to her boyfriend and the children,” the memorandum states.

The Commerce-based day care is listed as a Five-Star day care in Oklahoma, the highest ranking a daycare can achieve, according to the state’s Department of Human Services website.

Bear was fired from her position.

If you know or suspect a child is being abused reach out to the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office at (918) 253-4531, the Delaware County Children’s Special Advocacy Network at (918) 253-4539, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office at (918) 542-2806, the Child Advocacy Center of Ottawa County at (918) 540-1621 or the Craig County Sheriff’s Office at (918) 256-6466 .

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