ELK POINT, S.D. (KTIV) -
A Siouxland woman will serve jail time after prosecutors say she abused a child at her in-home daycare.
It's a case that's divided a family. Lynn Klunder not only admitted to abusing a child inside the daycare she runs at her Elk Point, South Dakota home, that victim is her cousin.
"We held Lynn to a higher standard, because she was family, because she was not only family, but she was a friend. She wasn't just the daycare provider for Molly, she was so much more than that," said Molly's aunt and Lynn's cousin Tammy Hall.
On December 12th, prosecutors say Klunder became outraged and took her frustration out on two-year-old Molly Holmes after the little girl had a potty training accident. Molly's parents say their daughter had welts and bruises along with an imprint of Klunder's ring on her body.
In court, prosecutors said when Molly's parents, Mark and Irma Holmes reported their daughter's injuries, Klunder blamed them on another child, then a toy, then on Molly's own family, before finally admitting her own guilt.
Klunder had no comment during or after court, Friday. Klunder pled guilty to contributing to the abuse or neglect of a child. A charge of assault was dropped.
Family members believe Molly's still traumatized by what happened.
"She still has some fear and some shyness, and she still talks about it occasionally, but she's doing much better," said Hall.
Klunder was sentenced to 180 days in jail. All, but five of those will be suspended. Klunder will likely serve those five days at a work release facility.
She still operates her daycare. In fact, her attorney Dave Stewart pointed out that she's only lost one family since this incident occurred. However, he also admitted that the state is now likely to take that license away.
Klunder will report to jail on August 3rd.
