Moore Daycare Worker Charged With Child Abuse

Moore Daycare Worker Charged With Three Counts of Child Abuse

A Moore daycare worker is facing three counts of child abuse after investigators say surveillance video showed her physically mistreating children while they were in her care.

Samantha Pearson, 25, was arrested and charged in Cleveland County after authorities reviewed video from an in-home daycare in Moore. Court documents allege Pearson placed wet wipes into children’s mouths, slammed one child onto a changing table and later slapped the child. Pearson is being held on a $300,000 bond.

The charges are allegations. Pearson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Moore Daycare Worker Accused of Abusing Children on Video

According to court documents, Samantha Pearson was caring for multiple children at the Moore home daycare on June 26 when surveillance video allegedly captured several incidents involving two children.

Investigators say the video showed Pearson placing wet wipes into the mouths of two children while changing their diapers in an apparent attempt to stop them from crying.

The affidavit alleges one child tried to spit the wipe out before Pearson placed another wipe into the child’s mouth.

Investigators also said the footage showed Pearson grabbing one child after the child attempted to crawl away and slamming the child back onto a changing table.

Later in the recording, investigators said Pearson could be seen and heard open-hand slapping the child after the diaper change.

The District 21 District Attorney’s Office filed three counts of child abuse against Pearson. Prosecutors have emphasized that criminal charges are based on probable cause and that defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Former Daycare Client Says She Previously Removed Her Children

One mother whose children had previously been cared for by Pearson said the allegations were especially disturbing because she had once trusted Pearson with her own family.

Brittany Moser-Moxley said Pearson watched her children for several months. Although the current charges do not involve her children, Moser-Moxley said she had experienced incidents that eventually caused her to question whether she should continue using the daycare.

She said there were occasions when her children were allegedly left with Pearson’s husband without the parents being notified.

Moser-Moxley said another incident involving her son ultimately led her to remove her children from Pearson’s care.

According to Moser-Moxley, Pearson sent her a text saying her son was turning purple and blue, prompting her to immediately leave work and go to the home.

She said she stopped using Pearson’s daycare after that incident.

The allegations against Pearson are now also being investigated by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, which oversees child care licensing and investigates complaints involving child care programs.

Oklahoma DHS Records Raise Questions About Daycare License

Questions have also emerged about whether Pearson was licensed to operate an in-home daycare.

News reports initially indicated that a search of the state child care database did not show an active license for Pearson. Oklahoma Human Services later confirmed Pearson had not held a child care license since 2025.

The Oklahoma Human Services Child Care Licensing program is responsible for licensing and monitoring child care providers across the state. The agency says licensing requirements are intended to protect children from harm and safeguard their health and safety while they are in care.

Parents can search for licensed providers and review available monitoring information through the Oklahoma Child Care Locator.

The state also maintains specific licensing requirements for family child care homes, including standards for homes that provide care and supervision for children.

Pearson remains charged with three counts of child abuse in Cleveland County as the criminal case and DHS investigation continue.

For Oklahoma parents, the case also underscores the importance of checking a provider’s licensing status and available inspection or monitoring information before selecting child care.

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