9-year-old boy charged in death of infant Day-care worker charged with endangering the welfare of a child BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer was charged with the death of an 11- month-old Carteret boy at a home-based day care center in Iselin, last week. Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan announced in a statement on Aug. 29 that after a joint investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and the Woodbridge Police Department, two individuals have been charged in connection with the death of Tahir Francis, who had been under the care of Beverly Bryant for approximately three months. The 9-year-old juvenile was charged with an offense that if committed by an adult, would constitute aggravated manslaughter. Bryant, who has been a licensed day care provider with the state of New Jersey for 12 years at her home on Carver Street in Iselin, was charged with a second-degree offense of endangering the welfare of a child, officials at the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said. Bryant's criminal trial attorney, Christian Fleming, of East Brunswick, said Bryant is deeply saddened by the charge against the 9-year-old boy, whom she has cared for since he was 2 years old. "My client is being fully cooperative and has given statements to detectives," said Fleming, who said he could not go into details of the case. It is alleged that the 9-year-old juvenile physically assaulted the infant on Aug. 23, causing multiple skull fractures. Middlesex County Chief Medical Examiner Andrew Falzone performed an autopsy on Aug. 24. The results indicated that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, officials said. It is further alleged that Bryant was not present in the room when the injuries occurred, and in fact had left the five children who were under her care and custody alone for an unspecified period of time prior to the fatal blows, officials said. Officials found probable cause to file the charges against the 9-year-old boy and Bryant based on the police investigation as well as statements of witnesses and defendants. The juvenile appeared in court Aug. 29 before Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Roger Daley, sitting in New Brunswick. Daley ordered the juvenile placed on house arrest under the supervision of his parents, officials said. Bryant appeared in court on Aug. 29 before Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Joseph Rea on the second-degree charge and was released on her own recognizance. Rea set a condition on her release, which states that Bryant would not be allowed to have unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 years old and further that she cease and desist operation of her day care center until authorization of the court, officials said. If convicted of the endangering offense, Bryant could face between five and 10 years in prison, officials said. Kate Bernyk, press officer for the state Department of Children and Families, said Bryant registered her family day care center with the state in 1994 and was sponsored by the Middlesex County Board of Social Services. Bernyk said Bryant is currently sponsored through Catholic Charities in Middlesex County, who sends out inspectors to inspect her home. Bernyk said the day care center was last inspected on Aug. 7 and the center was up for registration renewal in October. Renewal is required every three years. "This was a routine inspection," said Bernyk. "There were minor items found that needed to be fixed, which are normal with every day care center. A room was just painted, which needed to be aired out, paperwork needed to be kept updated, and a floor lamp needed to be moved. All these items were also quickly abated." Bernyk said Bryant's day care facility was not required to have a state license. "If someone cares for five children or less under the age of 13, they don't need to register for a state license, it's voluntary," she said. Bernyk said Bryant was found with one significant problem in 2005. "She was found caring for eight children when she was only registered to care for five children; however, she quickly abated the problem and there have been no complaints since," said Bernyk. Fleming said this has been the first criminal charge against his client, who has two grown children and five grandchildren. "She's a pillar of the community," he said. "Parents of children at her day care center have called her in support, and also former children she has taken care of have called her in support. She's just deeply saddened by what has happened."