Four employees connected to a child care center operating on the campus of SUNY Cortland have been charged following a child endangerment investigation that has now led to the facility’s temporary closure and a proposed license revocation by the state.
According to SUNY Cortland University Police Department, the arrests involve allegations tied to the university’s child care center, which serves more than 100 children.
Police identified those charged as:
- Aimee Wyatt, 50, of Truxton, charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of criminal solicitation.
- Executive Director Karen A. Diescher, 50, of Cortland, charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
- Kelsi Carlisle, 29, of Cortland, charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
- Heather Hurteau, 57, of Cortland, charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
University police said Wyatt was charged on April 24 and May 8. Diescher and Carlisle were charged May 7, while Hurteau was charged May 19.
Authorities have not publicly detailed the specific allegations underlying the charges, saying only that the investigation remains ongoing.
The child care center announced it will close for the next two weeks while multiple agencies continue investigating, including university police, Child Protective Services, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and SUNY Cortland officials.
In a statement, the child care center said the safety and well-being of children remains its top priority and that staff are cooperating fully with investigators.
State officials have also proposed revoking the center’s operating license. According to the report, the facility would have 30 days to appeal that action if finalized.
The report also noted the center has accumulated 29 documented violations, including issues tied to staffing standards and disciplinary practices involving children.
A SUNY Cortland spokesperson told reporters the child care center operates independently despite being located on campus and said the university would not comment further on the investigation.
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