The Natick, Massachusetts, day care teacher convicted last week of abusing a 3-year-old boy in her care was sentenced Thursday. Sophie Varatharasa, 47, was convicted of assault and battery for injuring the ears of a boy at the Community Montessori School in Natick. On Thursday, she was sentenced to two years of probation and forbidden from working with children during that time.The boy's mother made an emotional plea to the judge to make sure the teacher couldn't hurt another child."Our hearts break to think of the pain and the fear our son must have felt at the moment when the abuse occurred. He suffered a terrible trauma that day and we, as his parents, did as well," the boy's mother told the judge in a victim-impact statement. "Our primary goal has always been that Sophie never be in a position to harm another child again."Prosecutor Katharine Folger asked for three years of probation and that if Sophie Varatharasa were to have supervised contact with children, that her sister, Lucie Varatharasa, who was also the director of the Community Montessori School, be forbidden from being the supervisor. That's because, Folger said, Lucie allowed Sophie to return to work the day after being told the injuries were inflicted.Folger added: "During the course of the investigation of this matter it came to light that other children had received similar ear injuries while in the defendant's classroom."Those cases were not charged and Lucie Varatharasa was not charged in any case. 5 Investigates previously reported that a state investigation determined two other children in the same class were abused in a similar way by Sophie.The judge did not address the prosecutor's request in his sentence, instead forbidding Sophie Varatharasa from working with children during her probation.The boy's parents, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told 5 Investigates in 2022 that their child's injuries to his ears were noticeable when they picked him up.They spoke out at the time because they were frustrated with the state's response to the injury.The Community Montessori School no longer exists, but Lucie Varatharasa's name is on the license for another daycare, Robbin's Roost, at that same location. There is no record of child abuse at this other daycare.
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. —
The Natick, Massachusetts, day care teacher convicted last week of abusing a 3-year-old boy in her care was sentenced Thursday.
Sophie Varatharasa, 47, was convicted of assault and battery for injuring the ears of a boy at the Community Montessori School in Natick. On Thursday, she was sentenced to two years of probation and forbidden from working with children during that time.
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The boy's mother made an emotional plea to the judge to make sure the teacher couldn't hurt another child.
"Our hearts break to think of the pain and the fear our son must have felt at the moment when the abuse occurred. He suffered a terrible trauma that day and we, as his parents, did as well," the boy's mother told the judge in a victim-impact statement. "Our primary goal has always been that Sophie never be in a position to harm another child again."
Prosecutor Katharine Folger asked for three years of probation and that if Sophie Varatharasa were to have supervised contact with children, that her sister, Lucie Varatharasa, who was also the director of the Community Montessori School, be forbidden from being the supervisor.
That's because, Folger said, Lucie allowed Sophie to return to work the day after being told the injuries were inflicted.
Folger added: "During the course of the investigation of this matter it came to light that other children had received similar ear injuries while in the defendant's classroom."
Those cases were not charged and Lucie Varatharasa was not charged in any case. 5 Investigates previously reported that a state investigation determined two other children in the same class were abused in a similar way by Sophie.
The judge did not address the prosecutor's request in his sentence, instead forbidding Sophie Varatharasa from working with children during her probation.
The boy's parents, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told 5 Investigates in 2022 that their child's injuries to his ears were noticeable when they picked him up.
Parents in Massachusetts outraged at state's response to day care abuse
They spoke out at the time because they were frustrated with the state's response to the injury.
The Community Montessori School no longer exists, but Lucie Varatharasa's name is on the license for another daycare, Robbin's Roost, at that same location. There is no record of child abuse at this other daycare.
