PLAINFIELD, N.J. (AP) — Prosecutors have agreed to recommend probation for a former New Jersey preschool director accused of using a knife to threaten two 4-year-olds.
The Union County prosecutor's office said Adetokunbo Akinnaso, 64, pleaded guilty last week to two counts of fourth-degree child abuse in Superior Court NJ.com reported.
Akinnaso was the director of the Dawn To Dusk Christian Childcare and Learning Center in Plainfield when prosecutors alleged she brandished a knife after two 4-year-olds were brought to her office for disciplinary reasons earlier this year. The children weren't injured and the school district said she was immediately removed from her job.
Mark Spivey, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office, said Akinnaso agreed as part of her plea never to seek employment at a job working with children.
Raymond Moss, father of one of the children, expressed concern that Akinnaso won't face more than probation and questioned the lack of weapon or threat charges, but said prosecutors told him they filed the charges they believed they could prove. Moss said his son is normally a "bundle of joy" but was traumatized and doesn't like to talk about the episode.
Mark Spivey, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office, declined to comment on other charges but said the child abuse charges weren't reduced as part of the plea deal. The defendant's bid for pretrial Intervention wasn't accepted.
Defense attorney Adetula Olubukola has declined comment on the case.
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