What to Know
Discovery Zone Kids in Evans, Georgia, contacted a mother to pick up her children in the summer of 2025 following an alleged incident. When the unidentified woman spoke to her 6-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, they claimed a teacher forced them to fight each other.
Police ultimately arrested Riffat Tahmin Khalil, and prosecutors charged her with child cruelty. After entering an Alford plea in court, Khalil will spend eight months in jail.
The mother called police to report the teacher.
WSB-TV reported that, according to court documents, Columbia County deputies went to the family’s home on July 28, 2025, following a call about a disturbing incident at the daycare.
The children alleged Khalil encouraged them to fight. The Augusta Press reported that the mother sent her parents to the daycare, and the owner shared shocking video footage that was then turned over to police.
Video reportedly showed the children in an intense fight.
In the footage, the older boy kicked his sister multiple times as the child lay on the ground. The girl eventually grabbed a chair to put between herself and her brother to stop the attack. Khalil reportedly grabbed the chair and told the boy to throw it at his sister.
Following the altercation, the mother took her daughter to a doctor for medical care and demanded Discovery Zone Kids fire Khalil.
Khalil entered an Alford plea.
Khalil, now 38, entered an Alford Plea in court. This allowed her to plead guilty while not admitting to prosecutors’ exact allegations. According to Georgia law, “Prosecutors characterize Alford pleas as a method of entering into a guilty plea without actually admitting to the act.
If you go to trial, it is likely you will receive a much harsher sentence than if you pled before the trial.”
A judge ultimately sentenced her to eight months in prison. Khalil can never work in childcare again.
Not everyone approved of Khalil’s sentence.
A man claiming to be the victims’ uncle expressed his frustration on social media.
“No it wasnt appropriate…..im biased cause im a uncle of the children but only 8 months in jail (thats columbia county jail not prison and if she becomes a trustee those 8 months become 4) is not right…..8 years probation is ok but it should’ve atleast been 1-2 years inside AND SHE SHOULDVE HAD TO EXPLAIN HERSELF!!!” He wrote.
This person agreed, writing, “Her actions were ridiculous and abusive, I’d have to pretend to be her sibling to show her the error of her ways.”
Others think the family blew the situation out of proportion.
“So you are telling me those kids never ever tried to fight each other at home? I’m confused. Maybe there is more to the story, but sibling rivalry is a thing. If those two never wanted to harm each other then I understand each other but siblings argue a lot and fight each other. Doesn’t the daycare have surveillance everywhere?” Someone asked.
Others had good experiences at Discovery Zone Kids and hope this incident doesn’t tarnish the business’ reputation.
“Both my children went there and we never had any issues. The owner was always very responsive and did a good job with managing her staff. The facts are that as much as you vet a person you can’t control what an employee does. I hate this happened to those poor children and hope they are doing ok,” they wrote.
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