Former Cranford Daycare Workers Who Encourgaged 'Fight Club' Amongst Children Sentenced

CRANFORD, NJ — The two former Cranford daycare workers who admitted to instigating and encouraging fights among children at the center have been sentenced, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Friday.

Erica Kenny, 23, of Cranford and Chanese White, 29, of Roselle were sentenced to three years of probation apiece and both permanently barred from teaching or working with children ever again under terms set down by state Superior Court Judge Frederic R. McDaniel.

They also were ordered not to have any contact with their young victims, and they agreed to pay restitution in an amount to be determined.

“What you created here, whether knowingly or unknowingly, was a recipe for disaster,” Judge McDaniel told one of the defendants during Friday’s sentencing.

Last summer, authorities say both women encouraged the 4- to 7-year-olds to fight while they were at the Lightbridge Academy on South Avenue East. Kenny is also accused of using her cell phone to take video of the fights and share that video on Snapchat, according to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.

She is heard using the term “fight club” on that video, authorities said.

The children involved in the fights are not believed to have suffered any serious injuries.

Kenny and White were charged via summons in August 2015, and they pleaded guilty to charges of fourth-degree child abuse in August 2016.

The women had tried to enroll in a probationary programthat could allow their records to eventually be cleared, but it was denied.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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