LAKELAND (Bay News 9) -- Colors R Us Child Development Center is facing sanctions for failing to report allegations that a teacher was taping children's mouths shut, locking them in a closet and even forcing them to eat hot sauce as punishment.

"It alarms you," said Linda Mahoney, whose grandchildren were enrolled at the daycare.

Word about the allegations began to leak out Friday. Mahoney said she was pulling her three grandchildren out of the Lakeland day care because she no longer trusted the staff -- mostly because the allegations are from months ago, and she only recently found out about them.

"The parents aren't being informed," Mahoney said. "So if your child is having issues, you don't know what the issues are about and you don't know how to help that child."

The former director of the day care said she didn't immediately report the allegations because they came to light during a holiday weekend and she wanted to talk to the teacher face-to-face first.

The Department of Children and Families started an investigation in June and found several additional violations regarding conditions at the day care.

The teacher accused of the abuse has been fired, and the director has temporarily resigned while the state decides what disciplinary action the day care itself could face.

The owner of the day care says she's working on coming into compliance with all DCF rules and has given her workers extra training. Because the director did not immediately notify DCF of the concerns about the former teacher's actions, the day care could face punishment and that could mean losing its license.

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Information from News 13’s Bright House Networks affiliate,Bay News 9, was used in this report.