2 pleas, no jail time after toddler chokes to death on carrot from NY day care teacher’s bag

2 pleas after NY toddler chokes to death on carrot

MINEOLA, N.Y. — The owner and former assistant director of a New York day care center where a 2-year-old girl choked to death on a carrot have pleaded guilty to criminal charges.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice says Carousel Day School owner Eugene Formica (for-MY’-kuh) pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment Monday. Formica will receive three years of probation.

Former assistant director Kathryn Cordaro pleaded guilty to running an unlicensed day care center for toddlers. She’ll receive a conditional discharge, meaning the arrest will be purged if she stays out of trouble.

Prosecutors say Olivia Raspanti choked to death March 17, 2009, after getting the carrot from a teacher’s bag.

They say the corporation that operates the Hicksville facility pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and running an unlicensed day care for toddlers and preschoolers. The corporation will be fined $15,000.