By Wally Kennedy

Globe Staff Writer

The director of Mercy Discovery Center, the child-care center operated by St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, was charged Thursday with one count of abuse of a child for allegedly biting a 1-year-old boy on the arm.

Janice Burress, 55, 1410 S. Marwalk Drive, has been charged with a Class C felony, according to Dean Dankelson, Jasper County prosecuting attorney.

Burress was to turn herself over to police on Thursday before a warrant for her arrest was signed, according to her attorney, Charles Genisio, of Joplin.

A spokeswoman at the Joplin City Jail said Burress had not surrendered as of Thursday afternoon.

Associate Judge Richard Copeland of Jasper County Circuit Court set bond at $3,500.

According to an affidavit filed by Joplin police Detective Michael Gayman, the incident happened Monday when Ethan Estes-Daniels, age 1, went into an office with Burress at the child-care center.

The affidavit states that the boy "entered the suspect's office with no injuries and left the office a short time later with an adult-size bite mark on his right arm."

What prompted the woman to allegedly bite the child is not clear, but the medical center issued a statement that "time outs" are the only disciplinary measures sanctioned by the medical center.

The affidavit said witnesses had seen similar conduct with the boy in late April and early May.

The incident was reported to the Missouri Department of Social Services on Tuesday by administrators at St. John's. That reporting is required by state law. The medical center said Burress is no longer employed by Mercy Discovery Center.

Debbie Linnes, interim chief executive officer at St. John's, said: "We take this situation very seriously, and have initiated a comprehensive internal investigation surrounding the allegation. We are further cooperating with authorities in their investigation of the incident."

The hospital said Mercy Discovery Center, operated by St. John's since 1988, was placed under new management Wednesday.

Linnes, in a statement released to the media, said: "We have conducted and will continue to conduct employee in-service training on our policy on disciplining children at the Mercy Discovery Center, and we have reminded staff of the Ethics at Work Hotline established for St. John's employees.

"Additionally, an alert number has been set up for employees of the Mercy Discovery Center to report any issues related to child safety."

Mercy Discovery Center is licensed. In a handbook given to parents of children at the center, the policy on discipline:

"We do not spank, shake, bite, pinch, push, pull, slap or otherwise physically punish the child. In case of a problem with your child such as biting, hitting, or some other behavior disorder, we may be required to ask you to remove your child from the center. We use time-out as our only means of punishment."

Linnes said: "The safety of our children and the preparedness of our staff are our top priorities. We have provided an information line for parents to call with any questions or concerns about their child, or our policies at the Mercy Discovery Center. We will also be in contact with each parent to address any concerns they may have."

Debra Scott, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Social Services, on Thursday said complaints involving child-care centers are investigated by the agency's "out-of-home" investigation unit. The investigation should take 30 days to complete, she said.

"We will interview the child, depending on their age, and we will examine the child if physical abuse is alleged," Scott said. "We will also contact collateral contacts, including any other adult who may have knowledge about the neglect or abuse, and we might talk to other children who might know something.

"Once we have interviewed everyone involved, including the parents of the child, we will draw a conclusion based on the evidence collected."

A report will be issued to the director of the child-care center, to the parents of the alleged victim and to the alleged perpetrator.

Under Missouri law, the department is prohibited from releasing information about reports of abuse and neglect except in two instances: when a child fatality or near fatality is involved.