TWO CRECHE WORKERS accused of instigating scuffles among young children today pleaded not guilty to child abuse charges.
One of them had herself compared it to the film “Fight Club.”
Erica Kenny, 22, of Cranford, New Jersey and Chanese White, 28, of Roselle, entered their pleas on fourth-degree child abuse charges at a hearing in the town of Elizabeth.
Kenny also faces a charge of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child after prosecutors say she recorded video of the fights on 13 August, and shared them with friends through Snapchat.
In the video, she compares the fights to the 1999 movie starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, authorities said.
Investigators said about a dozen boys and girls are shown in the clips shoving one another to the ground and trying to hit one another.
The children apparently didn’t suffer any serious injuries.
Kenny said at the hearing that she had just filled out paperwork for a public defender. White said she was still seeking a lawyer. Both refused to comment to the media afterwards..
After the workers were charged earlier this week, the Lightbridge Academy centre in Cranford said in a statement that it was “shocked and saddened by this isolated incident.”
Staff at the crèche said they learned of the allegations in mid-August and suspended the workers. They were later fired.
Several parents whose children attended the crèche said they were outraged to learn of the allegations. But many also praised the center for the way it handled the situation.
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