NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Incident: I25- 13046, I25-13753

Incident Date: November 8, 2025

Two Defendants Plead Guilty to All Charges in Medway Child Abuse Investigation

The Medway Police Department is providing an update to a news release issued on January 23, 2026, regarding the arraignment of two former employees of Bright Path Child Care Center following an investigation into the abuse of two young children at the Medway facility.

On Monday, August 10, 2026, Anthony Barron and Caleigh Kent pleaded guilty in Wrentham District Court to all charges brought against them as a result of that investigation.

Anthony Barron, age 27, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty to:

• Four counts of Assault and Battery on a Child Under 14 Causing Bodily Injury
• Two counts of Reckless Endangerment of a Child Under 18
• Two counts of Failure to Report Child Abuse and Neglect as a Mandated Reporter

Caleigh Kent, age 25, of Whitinsville, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to:

• Two counts of Assault and Battery on a Child Under 14 Causing Bodily Injury
• One count of Reckless Endangerment of a Child Under 18
• Two counts of Failure to Report Child Abuse and Neglect as a Mandated Reporter

For the felony Assault and Battery on a Child Under 14 Causing Bodily Injury charges, both defendants were sentenced to six months in the House of Correction, suspended for two years. A suspended sentence means the defendants will not serve the six-month jail sentence at this time. Instead, they will remain on monitored probation for two years. If either defendant violates the conditions of probation, the court may impose the suspended six-month sentence.

The defendants were placed on concurrent probation for the remaining charges and were ordered to contribute to the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office Victim Witness Fund.

As conditions of probation, both defendants are prohibited from working in child care or providing care to children, elderly individuals or individuals with disabilities, including in-home positions such as nannying or babysitting. They were also ordered to have no contact with and stay away from the victims and their families and to stay away from Bright Path Child Care Center in Medway.

The guilty findings will also become part of each defendant's criminal history and will be subject to future background record checks. Under Massachusetts regulations, these convictions may disqualify them from future employment in licensed child care settings, extending the consequences beyond the two-year probationary period.

The victims' families were consulted regarding the resolution of the case and agreed with the plea disposition.

Cases involving the abuse of children have an impact that extends far beyond a courtroom. For the victims and their families, the criminal justice process itself can add months or years of uncertainty to an already painful experience. This case reached a final disposition approximately nine months after the incidents were first reported, allowing the families to begin moving forward without the uncertainty and additional burden of a trial.

The Medway Police Department recognizes the strength and commitment the victims' families have demonstrated throughout this process. We are grateful for their trust, patience, and continued cooperation as investigators, prosecutors, and partner agencies worked to bring this case to a resolution.

The guilty pleas conclude a case that began following reports of incidents at Bright Path Child Care Center on November 5, 2025. The victims were both under the age of two and therefore unable to verbally report or fully articulate what had occurred. Investigators obtained and reviewed surveillance video from inside the child care facility, which documented the conduct that formed the basis of the criminal charges.

The initial report was taken by Officer Tom Sicchio, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Sergeant Lauren Swarthout, in coordination with the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office, the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, and the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.

The Medway Police Department would also like to recognize the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office for their advocacy on behalf of the victims and their families throughout the prosecution of this case.

Investigations involving allegations of abuse against children are among the most serious and consequential cases entrusted to law enforcement. They require careful, thorough investigative work, particularly when the victims are too young to speak for themselves. The evidence developed during this investigation led both defendants to accept responsibility by pleading guilty to every charge brought against them.

We recognize that members of the community may have questions or strong feelings regarding the sentences imposed in this case. Both defendants had no prior criminal history, which was among the information before the court when determining an appropriate disposition. Sentencing decisions are ultimately matters for the court. From an investigative standpoint, this resolution establishes criminal accountability for every charge while bringing the court process to a conclusion without requiring the families to proceed with a trial.

The Medway Police Department thanks the officers and investigators who worked diligently on this case and our partner agencies who assisted throughout the investigation and prosecution. Most importantly, we acknowledge the victims and their families and hope that the conclusion of the criminal case provides an opportunity for them to continue moving forward and healing in privacy.

Prepared by: Chief of Police William H. Kingsbury                                                                                                     Release Date: August 13, 2026