NEWS

Prosecutor: Daycare workers had ‘fight club’ with kids

CRANFORD – Two former daycare center employees are charged with fostering fights among children, which were videotaped, shared on social media and referred to as “Fight Club.”

Erica Kenny, 22, of Cranford, and Chanese White, 28, of Roselle, both are charged with fourth-degree child abuse. Kenny is also charged with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. White and Kenny were charged via summons last Friday and Monday, respectively, and are expected to appear in court for first appearances this Friday, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Tuesday.

The two women instigated fights among children ages 4-6 at the Lightbridge Academy on South Avenue East in Cranford on at least one day in mid-August, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Sheets, who is prosecuting the case.

Kenny is further accused of recording video of the fights with her cell phone and sharing the video clips with several friends on social media via the Snapchat app, Sheets said.

In the video clips, Kenny can be heard referencing the activity as “Fight Club,” quoting from the book and movie of the same name in encouraging the children to engage each other physically.

Approximately a dozen boys and girls at the daycare center can be seen in the video clips shoving each other to the ground and attempting to strike each other.

The children involved in the fights are not believed to have suffered any serious injuries. However, the investigation into this matter remains ongoing, and anyone with information is being urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective Joanne Son at 908-527-4696.

A call to the daycare center was referred to the company’s corporate office. A message left with Brenda Febbo, vice president of sales and marketing, was not immediately returned.

The company, which operates 19 daycare centers in New Jersey, did release a statement saying it had fired the employees and was cooperating with the Prosecutor’s Office.

“Today the Union County Prosecutor’s Office informed us that charges have been filed against two former staff members related to their encouragement of children to push and shove each other on the playground on Aug. 13th. As parents and caregivers, we are shocked and saddened by this isolated incident and we have assisted the prosecutor’s office from the start of its investigation into this matter,” the statement said.

The statement said that the daycare center had “maintained open communication with our parents throughout this process.”

In addition to Cranford, Lightbridge Academy has a daycare center on South Jefferson Road in the Whippany section of Hanover Township, and also in Flemington, Iselin, two locations in North Brunswick, Piscataway, Westfield and Woodbridge proper.

Convictions on third-degree criminal charges can result in sentences of 3 to 5 years in state prison. Fourth-degree crimes are punishable by up to 18 months in prison.

The Prosecutor’s Office would not comment on how the allegations came to light but said they are continuing to look into whether conduct was limited to this incident or extended further.