The Oak Creek KinderCare worker who Parents say they allowed their 1-year-old boy to ingest cocaine at the nursery he pleaded guilty to possession.

Passion Watson, 24, of Cudahy, entered the plea Nov. 18 as part of a resolution between the parties involved, according to online court records.

Watson was facing a charge of possession of cocaine, with a modifier of that being “at or near certain places.”

The court ordered Watson to serve 120 days Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center (formerly the House of Correction) with credit for four days of time served, according to online court records.

The court suspended the sentence and placed Watson on probation for 12 months with several conditions, including that she serve 15 days in the CRC, cannot possess controlled substances without a prescription, perform 100 hours of community service and has no contact with Oak Creek KinderCare, among other requirements.

The Journal Sentinel reported that at the time of the May incident, Watson was no longer employed at KinderCare.

What happened earlier this year

In early May, Kimberly Hopson noticed a bruise on her son, Prince, after picking him up from KinderCare, 7677 S. Howell Ave. in Oak Creek. As the month progressed, Prince suffered more bruises and abrasions and started vomiting.

Hopson took her son to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin where cocaine metabolites were identified in the infant’s urine, according to authorities.

An Oak Creek police K-9 found cocaine in an employee’s bag in the children’s room at KinderCare. Charges of felony child neglect and possession of cocaine against Watson have been forwarded to the Milwaukee District Attorney’s office.

Instead, Watson was later charged with misdemeanor possession of cocaine.

Attorney B’Ivory LaMarr, who represented Hopson and the family, told reporters during a news conference at the time of the incident that the report was disturbing and a “serious and unacceptable betrayal of trust” no parent should have to face.

Prince’s father, James Staples, said they put their trust in KinderCare and “it’s betrayal, it’s betrayal to the max.”

KinderCare told the Journal Sentinel in May that it would cover “any out-of-pocket medical expenses the child’s family incurs as a result of this situation.”

LaMarr noted that Oak Creek KinderCare has 23 violations recorded between March 28, 2022 and April 10, 2024, according to online records from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.

The same department lists Oak Creek KinderCare as closed on Oct. 14, listing it as a temporary closure with no specific reopening date. Records indicate the location’s license has been revoked/suspended and an appeal has been made.

Contact Erik S. Hanley at [email protected]. Like his Facebook page, Redheadlinerand follow X @Redheadliner.

This article originally appeared on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Cudahy woman pleads guilty in Oak Creek KinderCare cocaine case