Judge: Man can’t retract guilty plea for girl’s rotten teeth

EASTON, Pa. — A judge has ruled that an eastern Pennsylvania father who authorities say let his daughter’s teeth rot so badly her life was endangered can’t withdraw his guilty plea.

The Morning Call newspaper in Allentown reports the judge said Thursday that Kenneth Wanamaker Jr. knew what he was doing when he admitted to reckless endangerment and false swearing.

The 37-year-old said after he entered his plea that he never endangered his 6-year-old’s life and didn’t understand the charges.

Wanamaker’s attorney, Gary Asteak, says his client will challenge the judge’s ruling.

Assistant District Attorney Anthony Casola says Wanamaker’s bid to withdraw his plea is “meritless.”

Authorities allege that Wanamaker allowed his daughter’s teeth to become so infected that a doctor said it could have killed her.