School Official: Bridgewater State Day Care Director Fired
BRIDGEWATER (CBS) - The former director of Bridgewater State University's day care center has been fired, according to a school official.
On Friday, Director Eva Gaffney told WBZ that "Judith Ritacco is no longer employed at Bridgewater State University."
Ritacco, 53, of Boylston, pleaded not guilty to charges of reckless child endangerment, witness intimidation and misleading investigators Thursday in Brockton District Court.
She was ordered held on $25,000 bail in connection with a child rape investigation.
Prosecutors allege that she never contacted authorities when other workers raised concerns that 21-year-old Kyle Loughlin had been inappropriately touching children at the center.
Loughlin has been charged with raping two boys, ages 4 and 5. He is being held without bail.
Ritacco was suspended after Loughlin was taken into custody.
In court Thursday, the prosecutor says a teacher approached Ritacco in early March about Loughlin's behavior and Ritacco replied she would "keep an eye" on it.
The defense attorney said Ritacco heard about a complaint from a parent and she reported it to a vice president at Bridgewater State.
The lawyer also said what was reported early on to Ritacco was not "sufficient reasonable cause to believe" there was sexual misconduct.
"My concern is my client is being thrown under the bus here," defense attorney Thomas Guiney said.
Guiney also said Ritacco had requested cameras for the daycare years ago, but the university refused.
