BrightPath Child Care Center Shuts Down After Abuse Allegations

0:00It's April 23rd, I'm Cory with the story, and this is Hartford News today, local news powered by AI. Bright Path Child Care Center in Avon, Connecticut is shutting down its location on Sinsbury Road next month, with the final day set for May 22nd, 2026. This comes right after serious sexual abuse allegations against the former employee and a new civil lawsuit filed by a mother's three-year-old son. The lawsuit hit Hartford Superior Court on April 8th, claiming the employee inappropriately touched and molested the child before late March. Avon police charged that same worker, John Carlos Barrios, Otero, on April 1st, with risk of injury to a minor and fourth degree sexual assault. He's currently held on a $1 million bond with his next court day, June 9th, in Hartford. Families at the center are reeling, as this shakes trust in a place meant to keep kids safe. The company says they're cooperating fully with law enforcement, running their own probe plus an independent review and helping parents line up new.

1:02Spots during the wind down, they're also tightening safety rules across all their centers. It's a tough blow for the whole community, but Bright Path insists the focus stays on supporting those kids and families through this mess.