Corbin Preschool employee indicted for abusing student

An instructional monitor at the Corbin Preschool Center has been indicted for allegedly abusing a student.

According to the indictment returned Friday in Knox Circuit Court, 48-year-old Tammi Eggen of Corbin is accused of one count of second-degree criminal abuse.

The indictment alleges that on or about Jan. 28 Eggen placed the three-year-old in a situation which caused him to be in danger of death or serious physical injury.

Corbin Independent Schools Superintendent Ed McNeil confirmed that school officials contacted social services and law enforcement as required by school policy. However, he declined to release any specifics concerning the allegation.

According to the indictment, Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy Claude Hudson is leading the investigation.

Deputy William Stewart, the department’s public affairs officer, said the department will not be releasing any information, citing the on-going investigation.

Under Kentucky Law, second-degree criminal abuse is defined as wantonly abusing another person or permitting another person of whom he/she has actualy custody to be abused, causing serious physical injury, placing the individual in a situation that may cause him/her serious physical injury, or cause torture, cruel confinement or cruel punishment to a person 12 years of age or less, or who is physically or mentally helpless.

Second-degree criminal abuse is a Class D felony carrying a potential sentence of one to five years in jail/prison.

Stewart said the indictment was returned based on the results of Hudson’s investigation. Officials at Circuit Court Clerk’s Office said an indictment warrant was Friday and has been served. A $5,000 cash bond has been posted.

Eggen is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Thursday in Knox Circuit Court.

According to the Corbin Preschool Center website, Eggen serves as a computer class monitor at the center’s Montessori Program

While confirming Eggen’s employment with the school system, McNeil said he could not comment on her current status.

“I really can’t say anything,” McNeil said.

The grand jury also returned the following indictments:

• Fairlon Smith, 60, of Corbin, first-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree wanton endangerment (three counts), reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants, failure to produce insurance card, failure to wear a seat belt, and failure to notify address change to department of transportation

• Rebecca Roark, 42, Corbin, fraudulent use of a credit car over $10,000 within six months, theft of mail matter, identity theft, unauthorized signature on a credit card, theft of a credit card, fraudulent use of a debit or credit card less than $500 within six months and second-degree persistent felony offender

• Christopher King, 24, Corbin, fraudulent use of a debit or credit card over $10,000 within six months, unauthorized signature on a credit card, and theft of a credit card

• Joseph Jones, 38, Corbin, manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

• Michael Wynn, 39, Corbin, manufacturing methamphetamine, first-degree possession of a controlled substance and second-degree persistent felony offender

• Wanetta Denton, 52, Corbin, manufacturing methamphetamine and first-degree possession of a controlled substance

• Nicholas Killion, 31, Rockholds, flagrant non support