Amanda Hickey, Charlie Cronmiller.Photo:DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Gofundme
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Gofundme
The owner of an in-home Georgia daycare center has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in connection with the death of a 4-month-old and the abuse of other children in her care.
On Sept. 22, Amanda Hickey, 48, of Dunwoody, pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree cruelty to children, seven counts of reckless conduct, one count of second-degree cruelty to children and three counts of simple battery, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said in a statement.
Hickey took an Alford plea to the charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 4-month oldCharlie Cronmiller,Boston said in the statement. (An Alford plea allows defendants to plead guilty while maintaining their innocence.)
Charlie Cronmiller.gofundme
gofundme
On Friday, a DeKalb County Superior Court judge sentenced Hickey to 35 years in prison, serving 30 in confinement and the remaining 5 years on probation.
Amanda Harris Hickey.DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office
Once she is released, conditions of her probation include that she may not have any contact with the victims or their families, she may not have any contact or work with any children under the age of 13 and may not gain financially from the case.
The case began to unfold on Feb. 3, 2021, when Hickey called 911 to report that a child in her care at Little Lovey home daycare center, which she operated out of her basement, was unresponsive.
Hickey told police she placed the child, later identified as Charlie, on his back in a Pack ‘n Play for a nap, according to the arrest warrant,Fox 5 Atlantareports. She told authorities he must have rolled over onto his stomach, the warrant says.
He was rushed to a local hospital where he died.
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Further investigation revealed physical abuse against six other victims in the daycare center ranging in age from 6 months to 16 months old, Boston said in the statement.
In court on Friday, Atlanta News First reports, Hickey apologized to the families of her victims, saying, “There are no excuses. I failed everyone. I failed myself. I failed my family, parents, clients, previous clients. I broke everyone’s hearts with my conduct that day, and I take absolute responsibility for everything.”
The daycare center was licensed for a maximum of six children, but was at nearly double capacity on Feb, 3, 2021, the statement said.“Today’s plea and sentencing put to rest what has been a painful chapter for the families who once trusted Amanda Hickey to watch over what they hold most dear, their children,” Boston said in the statement.
“While her decision to plead guilty to her crimes will not undo the harm she inflicted, it does spare these families the pain of re-living their worst days at trial," the statement added.
Hickey’s attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go towww.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
