Greece Day Care Provider Pleads Not Guilty
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A Greece woman accused of causing a brain injury to an infant in her care, pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday.
Tina Sardisco, also known as Tina Switkowski, who now has lighter hair than in her arrest picture, is accused of reckless assault of a child and reckless assault of a child by a day care provider.
Court papers explain emergency crews were called to Sardisco's home on May 12 or an unresponsive baby. The baby, six months old at the time, was motionless, and barely breathing.
Police reports say Sardisco told them she was feeding the baby a bottle, when the baby started choking. She says she started, "beating her on the back" to get her to cough, and then turned her around and "slammed her on the ground." Sardisco says she did that to start giving the baby CPR.
Sardisco's attorney James Doyle says what happened was tragic, but it was his client's attempt to save the child's life.
"She saved this baby's life," said Doyle. "In the process of saving this baby's life, the baby was injured, but this baby is alive. This was an emergency situation."
Prosecutors say the baby is now being seen by specialists and did suffer brain damage. They say the baby could face long term consequences.
Sardisco was released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court next month.