Preschool director admits she pulled knife, threatened to cut fingers off 4-year-olds

The former preschool director who used a knife to threaten two 4-year-olds will never work in childcare again and likely get probation.

Adetokunbo O. Akinnaso, 64, the former director of Dawn to Dusk Christian Childcare and Learning Center in Plainfield, pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of fourth-degree child abuse in Superior Court in Union County, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said Friday. The prosecutor's office has agreed to recommend probation at her sentencing Sept. 28.

In an attempt to discipline two young children Feb. 28, Akinnaso put a steak knife into their hands and told them she would cut their fingers off and throw them in the trash if they kept misbehaving, according to authorities and a report by the Department of Children and Families Office of Licensing. They weren't injured.

She was immediately removed from her job, a school district official said.

Raymond Moss of Plainfield, the father of one of the victims, is incredulous that Akinnaso won't face more than probation for threatening children with a weapon. He also questions why Akinnaso is not facing weapons or threats charges, but said the prosecutor's office told him the charges filed are the ones they thought they could prove.

Moss said his son, Elijah, is normally a "bundle of joy" but was traumatized by the incident and doesn't like to talk about it. "As soon as we sit him down and try to have these conversations, he goes to another place," Moss said in an interview in July.

Mark Spivey, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office, declined to comment on why other charges were not pursued. He said the child abuse charges Akinnaso pleaded guilty to were not reduced as part of the plea deal.

The prosecutor's office will recommend she be sentenced to probation but the length of the term will be up to the judge, Spivey said. As part of the plea, Akinnaso also agreed to have no contact with the victims or their families and to never seek employment for a job where she would work with children, Spivey said.

She had applied for Pretrial Intervention, but was not accepted into the program.

Her attorney, Adetula Olubukola, has declined to comment on the case.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.