The Hollister woman accused of attempting to drug toddlers under her care at a Morgan Hill daycare facility appeared at South County Courthouse Thursday, but the hearing was continued.
Deborah Gratz, 59, pleaded not guilty earlier this month to 10 misdemeanors related to the early-March incident at Kiddie Academy Daycare on the 15700 block of Monterey Road. She is charged with five counts of attempted child endangerment and five counts of assault.
Gratz’ hearing Thursday at the Morgan Hill courthouse was continued to May 2, for “pre-trial discussion,” according to Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Sumerle Davis.
Earlier this month, a fellow teacher at Kiddie Academy Daycare, 15750 Monterey Road, saw Gratz slipping an unknown substance into the sippy cups of about 10 toddlers between the ages of 1 and 2, police said. The children were under Gratz’ care at the time, and Gratz had worked at Kiddie Academy since 2007.
Staff at Kiddie Academy determined that Gratz had placed Sominex, an over-the-counter sleep-aid medication, in the children’s drinks, police said. The staff fired Gratz, and reported the attempted drugging to police.
None of the children consumed the substance, but police served a search warrant at Gratz’ home March 11 and found unspecified evidence related to the incident, authorities said. Police arrested Gratz at her home.
Gratz is out of custody, authorities said.
