Heather Ward, a former daycare worker indicted in March following a child abuse investigation at the Berlin Activities Depot, now awaits sentencing after entering an Alford plea to nine counts of second-degree assault.
On Monday, Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Brian Shockley found Ward, 40, of Berlin, guilty of the nine counts on which she had tendered an Alford plea, which acknowledges that the state has enough evidence to prove Ward guilty beyond a reasonable doubt should the case proceed to trial. The remaining 81 counts in her case, including 10 felony charges, will not be prosecuted as part of Ward’s plea agreement with the state.
Assistant State’s Attorney Pam Correa told the court Monday the nine counts, all misdemeanors, represent each of the nine victims in the case. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled following a pre-sentence investigation.
“We do agree if we had gone to trial, there would have been convictions on nine counts of assault,” she said.
This b*t$h needs the possible 10 years per count, 90 years total.