Day-Care Center Operator Convicted of Abusing Child

A jury Monday convicted former day-care center operator Henri Dyson, 43, of inflicting corporal injuries on a 17-month-old infant who was hospitalized after being given a cold-water enema.

After almost eight days of deliberations, the same jury acquitted Dyson and her son, Harold Dyson, 26, of three other child-abuse charges.

Henri Dyson was also acquitted of two counts of committing a lewd act upon two girls at her day-care center in Mira Mesa.

However, the San Diego Superior Court jury deadlocked, 11 to 1, for conviction on three other charges. Judge Anthony Joseph declared a mistrial on those counts.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Caryn Rosen asked Joseph to remand Henri Dyson into custody after the verdicts, but the request was denied. Mother and son remain free on their own recognizance.

Sentencing was set for Aug. 5. Henri Dyson could receive several years in state prison.

Rosen said it was too early to tell whether her office will retry the defendants on the unresolved counts.

The investigation into the treatment of children at the defendants’ day-care center began in Jan., 1989, after the boy went into convulsions from hypothermia as the result of a cold-water enema.

The infant was hospitalized with low body temperature. Other children testified that they were beaten.

Testimony began April 24, and the jury began its discussions June 24.