Plea may be in works for day care director

Kevin Hill

A pre-trial hearing for a day care director accused of failing to report child abuse in the case of a now-deceased Canton foster child has been adjourned until Wednesday.

Plea negotiations between the prosecutors and defense attorneys continue, according to court officials.

“They think they can wrap the plea discussions up,” said Ron Lowe, 35th District Court judge.

Those talks may not necessarily result in a plea agreement for Westland resident Jacqueline Hadwin, but attorneys from both sides agreed to postpone the hearing Friday after discussing the matter with Lowe.

Attorneys had been set to file motions regarding the witness list and jury instructions, and the defense had prepared to ask the court to dismiss the case.

Hadwin is charged with failure to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child in the case of Allison Newman, who died last September. Newman’s foster mother, Canton resident Carol Poole, is charged with her murder.

The charge against Hadwin is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 93 days in jail, a $500 fine, or both.

Canton Police said witnesses told them bruises had been seen on Newman at a day care she attended the summer preceding her death, but that Hadwin never reported the injuries.

The state of Michigan suspended the license of the Plymouth daycare, Childtime, on Oct. 16, 2006.

The parties will return to court at 9 a.m. Wednesday.