The Stamford woman accused of running a day care center unfit for children faced a judge Monday.

Colette Barnes, 40, stood quietly in the courtroom while her lawyer asked for the case to be continued. The Department of Health deemed the day care run by Barnes unsanitary and hazardous.

Police say they found exposed electrical sockets, water buckets catching water from overhead leaks and dirty conditions at the center. When they showed up at the center on Frank Street, police say Barnes was nowhere to be found and had left her 14-year-old daughter in charge. Police later found out that Barnes was in Florida.

The center was closed down, Barnes' license was reportedly suspended and three of her children were reportedly sent to foster care.

Barnes is facing eight counts of second-degree reckless endangerment and eight counts of risk of injury to a minor. If convicted, she could face more than 40 years in prison.