Defendant was captured on video slapping and shaking the five-week-old baby
WHITE PLAINS, NY (August 6, 2024) — A Brooklyn woman was sentenced Monday to 30 days of incarceration for endangering a 5-week-old infant who was in her care while employed as a night nurse.
In addition to 30 days in jail, the defendant, Gwendolyn Blake, 40, was also sentenced to three years of probation by Judge Ronald Meister in the Town of Mamaroneck Justice Court after pleading guilty in May to two misdemeanor counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. As a condition of her probation, the defendant is prohibited from working with the elderly, the young or any other vulnerable population. The court also issued a permanent order of protection. The DA’s Office recommended 60 days of incarceration.
On Aug. 30, 2023, at approximately 6 a.m., the defendant, who was employed as a night nurse to care for a family’s newborn in their home in the Town of Mamaroneck, struck the baby while he was crying. The defendant, on the following day, repeatedly slapped the infant’s face, grabbed his head and shook him. Both incidents were captured on surveillance video.
Following an investigation, the Town of Mamaroneck Police Department arrested the defendant on Sept. 5, 2023.
What they are saying
Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah: “This defendant violated her professional and moral responsibilities when she repeatedly struck a defenseless newborn in her care. We hope that today’s sentence ensures the defendant will not be able to harm any other children in the future.”
The victim’s parents: “This is a preemie who is colicky because of his low birth weight and instead of being treated with love and compassion, he was abused for being in pain. This has been a nightmare for our sons, our family, and our community. We will never be able to trust anyone with our children and are overly skeptical of anyone they interact with. Gwen Blake knew what she was doing behind closed doors, lied to our faces, and went about her business every single day seemingly without a care in the world. She is violent and poses a significant risk to innocent families.”
Anyone who may have information about other possible victims can contact the DA’s Office Child Abuse Bureau at (914) 995-3000.
The case prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Mollie O’Rourke of the Special Prosecutions Division.
