NATICK, Mass. —

The co-owner of a day care in Natick, Massachusetts, who is accused of assaulting two young children who were in her care, pleaded guilty Thursday.

Sandra Downer, 58, of Natick, was charged in February with two counts of assault and battery in connection with alleged incidents that happened at Lad & Lassie Nursery and Preschool in October 2024.

Downer's co-owner filed a complaint with the Department of Children and Families after seeing concerning incidents involving Downer on the day care's closed-circuit television cameras.

In one video, Downer picked a 17-month-old girl up by one arm, lifted her off the ground and put her in a seat as other children sat painting.

In the second video, Downer picks up the girl's twin sister during naptime and slams her back down onto

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