Police: Dad attacked day care owner after he was denied kids

HELENA (AP) — A Montana man faces criminal charges after prosecutors say he attacked the owner of a daycare center when she refused to let him pick up his children because he was drunk and does not have legal custody of them.

Francis Joseph Jackson, 31, is charged with aggravated burglary for the Oct. 7 attack on Martha McClure, owner of Martha’s Mini Daycare in Ronan, authorities said.

McClure was caring for Jackson’s three children, all under the age of 4, Lake County officials said. She knew Salish and Kootenai Tribal Child Protective Services had suspended Jackson’s parental rights and he was not allowed to have contact with them.

McClure reported she could smell alcohol on Jackson and that he was angry and threatened to assault her in front of the kids, court records said.

She was able to physically remove Jackson from the daycare center and lock the door. But she said he began throwing toys, including a tricycle, at the window in an apparent attempt to get back into the building, court records said.

She went outside, where she and Jackson fought until a female accomplice hit McClure in the face with a snow shovel. Jackson then hit McClure in the face, court records said. The suspects fled.

Jackson was arrested in Washington state on Monday afternoon. McClure underwent surgery Monday for an eye injury suffered in the attack, said her sister-in-law Marlene Heath.

Jackson waived extradition Tuesday morning during a court hearing in Pend Oreille County in Washington. His bond was set at $100,000 and he was expected to be returned to Montana later this week, a jail officer said.

Charges are pending against the woman accused of hitting McClure in the face with a shovel. She has not been arrested and her name has not been released.

Tribal Child Protective Services confirmed that Jackson had no legal right to be around his children, charging documents said.