Day care worker charged with indecent exposure speaks with Ch. 9

MATTHEWS, N.C. — A day care employee has been charged with indecent exposure against a 4-year-old, police said.

It was reported on May 7 but the man was charged after police presented their findings to a magistrate.

Matthews Police said the alleged exposure happened at Christ Our Shepherd Kids Child Development Campus on West John Street. They didn’t provide further details on what exactly happened.

The suspect, 43-year-old Kairaba Kente Martin, was charged with felony indecent exposure. He turned himself in on Thursday.

“These allegations are false these allegations are not true at all,” Martin told Channel 9′s Glenn Counts on Friday night. “I am the same Mr. K that you have known throughout the years that has shown your children and families compassion and love.”

Martin started working with COS Kids in September 2017 and has worked at the child development center on and off since then, COS Kids officials said. COS Kids put Martin on administrative leave on May 3 due to a “non-work-related manner that required our immediate review.”

COS Kids requires employees to have an active qualification letter from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, which Martin had while working there until recently when he got a disqualification letter from the agency.

COS Kids terminated Martin to comply with state regulations, officials said.

“I’m hurt being let go like that. I’ve been a part of the COS Family for seven years,” Martin said.

The safety and wellness of all children at COS Kids remain its priority, officials with COS Kids said in a statement to WSOC-TV.

The statement went on to say, “We are committed to transparency and will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that due diligence is carried out.”

After the latest allegations, COS Kids officials said they took swift action and are cooperating with authorities.

“I would never, ever do that to children. I put my love, my heart, and soul into what I do. And those children are my world,” Martin said.

Channel 9 spoke with a parent who said he just found out about the allegations one hour before the news broke.

“It’s something we should’ve known weeks ago,” said the parent, who didn’t want to be identified.

Martin stated that he is innocent and will not accept a plea deal. He intends to fight for his freedom.

The case is active and ongoing, police said.

Full statement from COS Kids:

“We are deeply committed to the safety and well-being of all children in our care, and we take any concerns regarding their safety very seriously. Mr. Kairaba Martin was originally employed with COS Kids on Sept. 7, 2017, and has served intermittently with us since that time. On May 3, 2024, Mr. Martin was placed on administrative leave concerning a non-work-related matter that required our immediate review.

“Following this, we took swift action and have been cooperating fully with legal authorities. All individuals who serve at our facility must possess an active qualification letter from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). Mr. Martin had maintained his qualification throughout his employment. However, he recently received a disqualification letter from NCDHHS.

“Consequently, to comply with state regulations, we had to terminate his employment. The safety and wellness of all children at C.O.S. Kids remain our utmost priority. Given that this is an active investigation, we will defer to the authorities and fully support their efforts. We are committed to transparency and will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that due diligence is carried out.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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