The operator of a Brooklyn day care where a worker was charged with molesting a child illegally mixed kids as old as 10 with toddlers, state investigators found.
The Office of Children and Family Services said Thursday it pulled the plug on Heavenly Miracle Academy’s facility on Blake Ave. in East New York.
On Jan. 17, Manathis Anderson, a 63-year-old volunteer at Heavenly Miracle, was arrested and charged with groping a 10-year-old over his pants four times in the last two months.
After the arrest, state and city investigators discovered Heavenly Miracle owner Jacqueline Mendoza had illegally merged a school-age program at a separate location with the Blake Ave. preschool.
On Jan. 20, the children’s services office notified Mendoza it intended to suspend her license, giving her 10 days to contest the suspension. She didn’t, so revocation proceedings have begun.
The state also issued a “cease and desist” order for Mendoza to stop running a school-age program at Blake Ave., but she also has a city license to operate a pre-school there.
On Thursday, Heavenly Miracle appeared to be open for business, but messages left for Mendoza were not returned.
Last week, the city Health Department said it was opening an investigation into the incident.
“The safety of our children is paramount, which is why the Heavenly Miracle’s illegal after school program was shut down immediately,” said Health Department spokesman Christopher Miller. “The existing day care program is under heightened scrutiny and inspectors are visiting the site more frequently.”
Anderson was a volunteer at the Blake Ave. day care center, and police are now looking to see if other children there reported problems with him.
He’s charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse and child endangerment.
