Oakdale Day Care Provider Charged for Locking Children in Backyard Shed

An Oakdale woman and day care provider is being charged with locking three of her day care children in a shed in her backyard in February.

Jennifer Lynn Goldetsky, 43, appeared in Washington County District Court last week. She is being charged with two counts of child endangerment and two counts child neglect.

According to the criminal complaint, two Washington County licensors made an unexpected visit to Goldetsky's home on Feb. 16. Around 9:30 a.m. one of Goldetsky's day care mothers was dropping off her daughter and told Goldetsky that two county licensors were outside. 

The complaint states that Goldetsky became panicked and told the mother that she had more children at her day care than she was licensed for. Goldetsky then asked the mother to take her daughter, plus two other children out of the home so the licensors would not find out. 

The mother reportedly saw Goldetsky then take three boys — two 4-year-old twins and a 5-year-old — into the backyard without shoes or jackets. On Feb. 16 the high temperature was 39.9 degrees Fahrenheit and the low was 24.1 degrees. 

Fearing for their safety, the mother left with her daughter and two other children and returned 45 minutes later. The three boys who were left outside were back inside when she returned, but the mother left with her daughter and later terminated her child care agreement with Goldetsky.

The twin boys told their parents and a Washington County Child Protection Social Worker that they had been in a shed with bikes and a lawn mower. The boys said Goldetsky pulled on a string that closed the shed's door and they could not get out. They said the other boy was crying because he was cold and they had also been cold.

The licensors had made two unexpected visits on both Feb. 15 and Feb. 16. The licensors reported that the list of children that Goldetsky provided the licensors never included the twin boys. 

For each count of child neglect and child endangerment, Goldetsky could face one year in prison and pay $3,000 in fines.

Goldetsky's next court appearance is Aug. 13.  

Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our newsletter