Local daycare owner charged with threatening priest - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

(FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - A director of a local Montessori school and daycare was charged on Monday for allegedly threatening a priest and almost hitting several others with her vehicle.

Linda Chery-Valentin pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of intent to commit a crime at her arraignment Tuesday in West Roxbury Municipal.

Chery-Valentin runs the Arc-En-Ciel Daycare and Montessori School out of the basement of Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon located at 61 Rockwood Street in Jamaica Plain.

According to police, the alleged assault occurred in the church's parking lot around 1 p.m. on May 6.  Parishioners were gathered at the church for Mass, a baptism, and a pre-Mother's Day lunch when Chery-Valentin allegedly threatened the priest, swore, and tried to run down several parishioners with her car.

The alleged incident occurred in front of at least 400 parishioners, including children.

Father George, the church's priest, told FOX 25 that the owner of the daycare decided to hold an open house, but did not mention the event to church staff.  He said Chery-Valentin was mad that there were not enough parking spaces. 

Chery-Valentin then allegedly forced her way into the rectory and said to him, ""You ruined my day and my business, and you're going to be sorry."

Police then said the suspect entered her vehicle and attempted to run down parishioners while yelling expletives.

According to the police report, Chery-Valentin was also angry that the entrance to the parking lot was blocked.

The prosecution didn't request cash bail, but asked that Chery-Valentin have no contact with the priest and the two victims, and stay away from the rectory and church. They did say she can continue to go to her Montessori school even though it's church property.

Chery-Valentin is due back in court on June 11.