Louisiana daycare operator charged after 3-year-old drowns in pool

A Louisiana woman who runs a day care out of her home has been charged with negligent homicide after a 3-year-old boy drowned in a backyard pool and was left unconscious in the water for about 20 minutes before pulling him out, authorities said.

Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO) Joann Johnson, 37, of Prairieville, Louisiana, was arrested in the drowning death of the child she was babysitting after security cameras showed the drowning child struggling and lifeless in the water.

“One of the hardest parts of watching this video is seeing little Ian fight for his life for several minutes,” APSO said. Donovan Jackson told WAFB in Baton Rouge reported that the child was identified as Ian Perez.

“And the second hardest part of watching this was seeing him in the pool about 20 minutes after he drowned. There was no supervision for over 20 minutes.”

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The drowning incident was reported to 911 around 3:50 pm on May 18. Johnson, who faces two to 10 years in prison if convicted, was charged weeks later and surrendered Wednesday. On $100,000 bond.

After responding to the 911 call, deputies found the child and, along with medical responders, attempted life-saving measures, including CPR. The child was taken by Air Med to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

“We understand that accidents happen,” Jackson told WAFB. “You might lose sight of them for a minute or two, maybe five minutes, but for more than 20 minutes that’s a problem and that’s clear negligence.

“Whether it was an accident or not, this is clear negligence.”

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Babysitter Joann Johnson, 37, was arrested in Prairieville, Louisiana, in connection with the drowning death of a 3-year-old child. (Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office)

Surveillance video reviewed during the investigation showed two young children in Johnson’s care playing near a backyard swimming pool without safety gear, authorities said. According to investigators, the victim fell into the pool and drowned; He remained unconscious in the water for about 20 minutes before Johnson was seen rescuing him.

Jackson told WAFB that Johnson was not a licensed day care provider and was caring for the 3-year-old under a “family friendly arrangement.”

“No parent should have to deal with the loss of their child, especially when that loss is due to someone else’s negligence,” Jackson said. he added.

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The Ascension Parish tragedy resulted in a 3-year-old boy suffocating to death and his caregiver being sentenced to 2 to 10 years in prison for alleged negligent homicide. (Michael Tortorich / USA TODAY NETWORK)

“A three-year-old boy – the friendliest boy you’ll ever meet – was so charismatic and full of energy. He absolutely loved playing with his bike, toy cars and stuffed animals,” Perez’s family wrote in the statement translated from Spanish. According to WAFB.

“He was very close to his five-year-old sister, Deyrin Pérez.

“Their mother was a single parent and was constantly pushing for her children; they were always the most important thing in her life.”

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The incident, which happened a few weeks before school summer holidays, signals a warning to parents and children about home and pool safety.

“If you’re going to have a pool and you’re going to have kids around that pool, especially kids that don’t belong to you, you better make sure you’re taking every safety precaution for that child’s health,” Jackson said.