A former Delaware County home-daycare operator charged with three counts of kidnapping and more than a dozen counts of endangering children failed to convince an appellate panel that the trial court was wrong to deny her request to replace counsel at the plea hearing.

The Fifth District Court of Appeals found that 53-year-old Rhonda Coomes’ request on Dec. 3, 2024, was neither supported by good cause nor made in a timely manner.

“First, there is nothing in the record to suggest any ‘reason’ why Attorney (Todd) Workman was deficient or that there was a breakdown in communication or an irreconcilable conflict sufficient to demonstrate good cause,” Fifth District Judge Robert Montgomery wrote for the 3-0 panel. “Indeed, the only thing we know is that Attorney Workman informed the court that appellant wanted to make such a motion. Nothing more. Clearly, this court cannot find an abuse of discretion based on a simple assertion.”

Additionally, Montgomery noted that the request was made just a few days before trial in a case that had been pending for months.

“The court was well within its discretion to deny such a motion based on its untimeliness,” he wrote.

According to background of the case, Coomes operated a daycare center out of her Radnor home. An anonymous complaint of potential child abuse at the home daycare made to the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office spurred an investigation that ultimately uncovered the abuse of 14 victims who attended the daycare between 2021 and 2023.

On Feb. 1, 2024, a Delaware County grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Coomes, and bond was initially set at $500,000.

Coomes hired an attorney, who filed a motion April 1, 2024, to withdraw from the case on the basis of a breakdown of communication with the client and Coomes’ failure to pay a retainer fee, summary detailed.

The state dismissed the initial case without prejudice as new, additional allegations came to light and, on April 11, 2024, Coomes was reindicted on three first-degree felony counts of kidnapping and 14 third-degree felony counts of endangering children.

Coomes was appointed new counsel.

At the woman’s plea hearing Dec. 3, 2024, Workman advised the court that Coomes no longer wished to plead guilty and wanted to move for substitute counsel. The trial court judge responded that it was too late for that as the trial was set to begin in a week.

The court took a recess to allow both parties to discuss another matter and, after the recess, Coomes returned with her attorney to inform the court that she wished to proceed with the guilty plea, summary provided.

Coomes pleaded guilty to all 14 counts of endangering children in exchange for the state dismissing the three kidnapping charges.

On Jan. 27, the court imposed a sentence of 36 months in prison on each count and ordered the sentences to be served consecutively, for a total prison term of 42 years.

Coomes appealed the judgment Feb. 3, stating that the trial court abused its discretion by overruling her motion for substitute counsel without inquiring about what prompted the request.

“Appellant cannot demonstrate she was prejudiced, in any manner, by the trial court’s decision not to substitute counsel,” Montgomery continued. “Appellant voluntarily chose to proceed with her guilty plea. … Appellant’s answers to the court during the plea colloquy demonstrate that there was adequate communication between appellant and Attorney Workman to ensure an adequate defense and that she understood the substance of the plea. There is quite simply nothing in the record to suggest the trial court acted arbitrarily or unconscionably. Thus, appellant’s sole assignment of error is overruled.”

Presiding Judge Craig Baldwin and Fifth District Judge Andrew King concurred with Montgomery’s opinion.