MCDUFFIE COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) – The newly-appointed director of the McDuffie County Animal Shelter is off the job, according to county officials, and facing child cruelty charges.

According to county Public Information Officer Jason Smith, Micayla McClain has been “placed on administrative leave until further notice.” He says this move was done because of “recent events in her personal life” that do not affect the animal shelter.

McClain has been on the job for only about 4 months. The county announced her hiring back in July, 2023.

NewsChannel 6 has learned that McClain, and her husband Richard, are accused of 1st Degree Cruelty to Children.

They bonded out of jail Wednesday.

Incident reports state that on September 20, the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office was notified by DFACS that a 2-year-old was exposed to Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

This was in connection with the child being taken to a local hospital due to being ‘groggy, crying and lethargic’. Medical personnel found that the 2-year-old had been exposed to or ingested an unknown amount of THC, requiring emergency medical treatment.

After an investigation, arrest warrants were issued for Micayla and Richard McClain on counts of Cruelty to Children, First Degree.

Earlier Wednesday, McDuffie County made a statement on their Facebook page saying that the animal shelter is closed for intakes. For the time being, adoptions will be by appointment only.

The McDuffie County Animal Shelter only recently reopened after being closed

Smith tells NewsChannel 6 the animal shelter also had a surprise inspection from the Georgia Department of Agriculture Wednesday. Smith says they “passed with flying colors.”

Editor’s note: This article originally listed the charge as cruelty to children for deprivation of sustenance. The McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office clarified that that charge was listed in error. This article has been corrected.