Deeper Purpose Community Church Settles Negligence Lawsuit

Deeper Purpose Community Church (DPCC) has settled a negligence lawsuit regarding a prior child abuse incident involving Charlett Wilson, 57, who was employed as a teacher at the church’s preschool, Deeper Purpose Kids Academy. 

Located in High Springs, DPCC was sued by the victim’s parents in June 2024 on civil charges of negligent hiring and negligent supervision.

On December 16, 2022, the director of the Deeper Purpose Kids Academy (whose name is redacted in the report) contacted the High Springs Police Department to report that he found surveillance footage from earlier that day showing Wilson physically abusing a three-year-old student.

Officer Ethan Presnell arrived on scene and observed footage that showed Wilson physically abusing the child. Wilson could "be seen grabbing the child by the foot and spinning her around in the air and being thrown back down on her mat," states the arrest report. Once the child was on the mat, Wilson retrieved a "long hard plastic object." The footage shows "what appears to be Wilson hitting [the victim] in the face with it numerous times." Wilson put the object down before forcefully sitting on the victim for several seconds while saying something to her in the process.

Following Wilson’s arrest, DPCC Pastor Adam Joy sent the Alachua Chronicle a statement where he said he contacted the victim’s parents immediately after verifying the video and that Wilson was fired. “I want to make it abundantly clear, that what took place was absolutely unacceptable, will not be tolerated, and what happened to the child should never happen to any child,” he said. 

A Facebook post by DPCC, dated 2021, states, “We wanted to take a moment & thank the Lord for sending Ms. Charlett to us when He did. She certainly was right on time. She comes to us with about 30 years of experience in Childcare, & has a wealth of knowledge in this field.”

On March 15, 2024, Wilson entered a no contest plea in which she was convicted of child abuse and sentenced to three years of probation. However, she was recently booked into jail on a probation violation warrant stemming from drunk driving charges. She currently remains in jail awaiting court proceedings.

On June 24, 2024, the Avera and Smith Law Firm filed a lawsuit against DPCC on behalf of the victim and their parents, seeking damages between $50,001 - $75,000. 

Court records show Wilson was granted two withheld adjudications for misdemeanor battery in 2002, one of which was initially charged as aggravated battery but was downgraded to a misdemeanor. She also had a robbery by sudden snatching charge that was downgraded to petty theft and later dropped. The lawsuit argues that DPCC was negligent in hiring Wilson because she was “not fit to be an employee at Deeper Purpose Kids Academy given her criminal history and inclination for violent behavior.” The lawsuit argues that it was "unreasonable" and “foreseeably dangerous” for DPCC to hire Wilson. 

On June 27, 2026 a judge formally approved a settlement agreement between the victim’s parents and DPCC. According to court documents, DPCC “had an insurance policy endorsement providing abuse or molestation coverage for $100,000.00 per claim.” The victim’s parents and DPCC settled for $60,000, of which roughly $25,000 will go towards attorney fees. The majority of remaining funds will go to the victim after she becomes an adult.

Update | On Friday, an individual made a post on Facebook alleging that Joy was "not approving & then removing/blocking individuals for posting about [the] settlement with the family of the abused kid at [his] day care in the High Springs Area Word of Mouth group that [he is] the admin for."

Joy issued a response in the comments section:

"Since you want to tag me publicly, trying to embarrass me, but won’t be man enough to message or call me, says quite a lot. I know who you’re friends with. I know what you and her are trying to do. It won’t work. See my other replies to the other comments. Trying to hide something? Let’s take a look back to 2022. 

• I saw the incident take place. 
• I immediately removed the employee. 
• I called the police right away. 
• I called the parents- myself. Right after calling the police. 
• I terminated the employee right away. 
• I contacted DCF. 
• I contacted the news media the same day & told them exactly what happened. 
• We lost no students over what happened other than the family that was involved & their very close family friend who was already looking for a new school anyway. Out of 75 students at that time. Because our parents stood by us and knew we handled it the right way. And we have had countless kids in our care since. 

So, please, tell me what am I trying to hide??? Please. That the family got money over this, several years later? 

Let me be clear. What happened was wrong. I stand for what’s right. I am not upset with the family for suing. If it were my child, I would’ve sued as well! It should not have happened. I wasn’t the one who did it, but it happened at my facility, so the buck stops with me, and I admit that. I took full responsibility. But, again. Please tell me what I’m trying to hide? It was news to me that they got a settlement, because after our attorneys and insurance company stepped in, I had nothing else to do with it. That’s what insurance companies and attorneys are there for. To handle what needs to be handled. I hope this answers your questions... [If you] have anymore questions, I’m very reachable! 

And, it should be noted, that the family involved thanked me for handling it the way that I did. For catching it and doing things the right way. Instead of hiding it, like many LOCAL centers do. I didn’t have to say anything. Centers do it all the time. I love how y’all are constantly after me, but won’t talk about the other local centers who have multiple DCF abuse cases where the staff or owners and directors have done things to kids and have been charged but still get to run their centers and DCF does nothing about it."

Joy also acknowledged that he did not approve the post about this article, stating, "The 'news source' that posted it, if you go to their website, all they do is post messy stuff that attempts to draw people’s attention or make others look bad. There’s nothing to 'expose.' Everything in that case- From FOUR YEARS AGO, was handled by the book, just as a man of integrity should’ve handled it..." Joy criticized the poster for anonymously sharing the article before stating, "It’s not news. I did delete and block you after you tried to post it. Because you were being messy and I delete and block messy individuals all the time. Post it in other groups... not mine. Sharing it is absolutely not hurting me or my preschool, because it’s old 'news' and parents know it was handled the right way." Joy said enrollment has increased after the article was shared by another individual.