PLATTSBURGH — Three former staff members of the Bright Beginnings Childcare Center at the Plattsburgh YMCA have been arrested.
According to Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie, Dillon Bronson, Amanda Rizzo and Autumn Stone, all former employees at Bright Beginnings Childcare Center in Plattsburgh, have been charged.
Bronson was charged with eight counts of endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of third-degree assault, and two counts of failing to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment.
Rizzo was charged with eight counts of endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of failing to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment.
Stone was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of failing to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment.
The three individuals were also named in a recent lawsuit filed against Plattsburgh YMCA for abuse at Bright Beginnings.
The lawsuit, filed last month by parents Abby and Ryan Bennett on behalf of their 2-year-old daughter, details abuse of up to 10 children between Jan. 12 and March 11.
Read the Press-Republican article about the lawsuit at tinyurl.com/3ace9637.
UPDATE: Lawsuit filed against Plattsburgh YMCA for abuse at Bright Beginnings
Since the investigation began in March, Bronson, Rizzo and Stone were terminated, along with Plattsburgh YMCA CEO Justin Ihne, COO Kris Tate and Bright Beginnings on-site manager Lynne Boyd.
“We are aware of the arrests of former Plattsburgh YMCA staff following allegations of child physical abuse at the Bright Beginnings Childcare Center. The YMCA Board has been fully cooperative with law enforcement during this investigation and will continue to provide access to anything needed to ensure individuals are held accountable,” the YMCA Board of Directors said in a statement released Wednesday night.
“The Plattsburgh YMCA Board of Directors takes the safety and well-being of everyone who enters our doors extremely seriously, especially when it comes to children in our care. Following this event, we have worked with external regulatory agencies to ensure the center has policies and procedures in place to prevent such unacceptable incidents from recurring.
“The safety of our community remains our top priority, and we will continue our commitment to transparency and accountability as we move forward.”