A pastor and three employees at a South Carolina Christian school have been charged in connection with alleged child abuse, according to local authorities.

The four individuals work at Maranantha Christian School (MCS) in Florence, South Carolina. They were arrested Monday for their role in alleged child abuse or failure to report the abuse, which occurred at the school, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office announced in a statement.

On Tuesday, a local judge ruled that 73-year-old Laurin Boyce, an MCS nursery and toddler caregiver who is at the center of the case, will remain in jail. The pastor and two other employees are currently out on bond, according to multiple court records.

The Sherriff’s Office alleges that Boyce “intentionally and repeatedly assaulted a child by slamming the head of the child into the crib” on Jan. 23.

She then allegedly covered the child’s head with a blanket, pressed down on the child’s head, and dragged the child out of the room.

A week later, she supposedly knocked a child over while at the school’s playground. Following this, she picked the child up and carried the child by their arm and leg before purposely dropping the child “from waist height” onto their head, the police said.

The police did not clarify if it was the same child in both instances, or the child’s age.

Boyce has been charged with two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child, assault and battery high and aggravated, and second-degree assault and battery.

Additionally, police said they charged two nursery workers, who allegedly knew of the abuse and failed to notify law enforcement about it.

Jessica Anngeline Elmore, whom MCS lists as its Childcare Development Director, was charged with two counts of failing to report child abuse and neglect. Dawn Denise Kirven, MCS’s principal, was charged with failing to report child abuse and neglect, and criminal conspiracy.

Police added that Lee B. Patrick, an MCS preacher and senior Bible teacher, is facing a charge of failing to report child abuse and neglect because he was in a position of trust at the school.

Patrick, 54, also serves as the pastor at First Free Will Baptist Church, which is directly affiliated with MCS, according the school’s website. Patrick has worked as a pastor for 25 years, according to the church’s website.

Police noted that under South Carolina law, teachers, principals, childcare workers, and clergy must report child abuse or neglect to law enforcement. If they fail to do so, the crime is punishable by a fine and imprisonment for up to six months.

The Roys Report (TRR) reached out to MCS and First Free Will for comment. MCS declined to comment, and the church did not respond prior to publication.

Attorneys for the school told ABC15, “We are stunned by the arrest of these fine people in our community, Pastor Lee Patrick, Dr. Dawn Kirven, and Jessica Elmore. We firmly believe in their innocence and look forward to a jury trial in their case.”

Parents say they are “lucky” to still have child

At the bond hearing Tuesday, parents of the victim told the judge the incident has caused many sleepless nights for the family.

“We are lucky to be standing here that we have a child to go home and hug tonight,” one of the parents said, according to WPDE. “We would beg that (Boyce) would be denied bond. Just because of the explicit acts on with our child.”

However, Boyce’s lawyer, William McIntosh, urged the judge to grant her bond as she worked in the childcare business for 15 years and has no prior criminal history.

Boyce is a grandmother of seven and a mother to three, he added, WMBF reported.

“She’s got ties to the community. She has no prior record. She is not a danger to the community,” McIntosh said.

He noted that Boyce has resigned from her position at MCS.

Ultimately, the judge denied bond for Boyce, according to court records.

Attorney Shipp Daniel, who represents Elmore, Patrick, and Kirven, urged the judge to grant their requests for bonds, according to WPDE.

“These three individuals have been charged with a reporting crime. They are not charged with hurting a child,” Daniel said. “They are charged with failing to report certain allegations to the right agencies.”

The judge set a $6,000 bond for these three individuals, according to court records. As part of the bond, the judge prohibited them from contact with the victim and from returning to the school.

All four of the suspects will next appear in court in April, court records report. 

MCS was established as a daycare in 1972, according to the school’s website. It was created under First Free Will Baptist Church.

Liz Lykins is a correspondent covering religion news for The Roys Report, WORLD Magazine, and other publications.