VILLA RICA, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
CBS Atlanta News reporter Bernard Watson went to Little Wildcats Academy in Villa Rica to ask Tough Questions about who it hires, but no one at the facility would talk to him.
One of the daycare employees is a convicted felon, which is against Georgia law.
The employee in question is Mysti Owens. The Georgia Department of Corrections said she was released from state prison last fall after serving time for a drug offense. Owens has been in and out of prison since 2007 for a variety of drug charges and a burglary conviction. Watson ran into Owens Wednesday morning as she went to work.
"You are not allowed to work here because you are a convicted felon, right?" said Watson.
"Hang on one second," said Owens. "Convicted felons are allowed to get a second chance."
The Georgia justice system has granted Owens another chance, but the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning said that chance can't come at a daycare center around kids.
"I am not embarrassed because I made those mistakes, but again, if you think about every convicted felon in the state of Georgia that would not be allowed to have a job or position, what do you expect us to do," said Owens.
Owens said the daycare and at least one parent knows about her past, and she said she is a good teacher. But state officials said daycare centers that hire felons can lose their license.
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