3 Charged With Abusing Toddlers at Manhattan Branch of Child Care Giant

New York Times

a day ago

The accusations are a parent's nightmare. One day care worker covered a toddler's mouth with packing tape so that the girl could not breathe. Another hit five children on the head with metal bottles. A third sprayed two toddlers in the face with bleach.
The workers were employed at a branch of the child care giant Bright Horizons near Columbus Circle in Manhattan. Together, prosecutors say, they abused 1- and 2-year-olds under their supervision for more than a year.
All three employees — Evelyn Vargas, Latia Townes and Shakia Henley — are charged with multiple counts of child endangerment, a misdemeanor, Alvin L. Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, said in a news release this week. Ms. Vargas, 47, is also charged with felony counts of assault, strangulation and attempted assault. Ms. Townes, 24, is charged with attempted assault as well.
In a statement, Bright Horizons, which operates about two dozen child care centers in New York City and more than 1,000 in the United States, Britain, the Netherlands, Australia and India, said it had fired Ms. Vargas, Ms. Townes and Ms. Henley in February.
'We took immediate action by terminating the individuals and reporting to the local authorities,' the company said. 'Since then, we have fully cooperated with those authorities. Our concern remains for the children and families involved.'
Ms. Vargas pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on Wednesday before Justice Ann D. Thompson in State Supreme Court. Dressed all in black and with her hair pulled back in a tight bun, Ms. Vargas had an impassive expression as she entered the plea.
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