NEW YORK, United States (CMC) — Prosecutors in Brooklyn have dropped a felony assault charge against a Caribbean American legislator here accused of beating her pre-teen son with a broomstick.

New York State Assemblywoman Diana Richardson, who represents the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn, was arrested on November 5 when her 12-year-old son walked into the nearby 71st Police Precinct to complain about his mother, who allegedly left his arm bruised after the beating.

Richardson , whose mother is from Aruba and whose father is from St Marteen, was initially charged with felony and misdemeanour assault charges, but after “careful consideration” and after speaking to the child’s father, prosecutors dismissed the top offence, according to the New York Daily News.

The son’s name was withheld because of his age.

But despite having the felony assault charge dismissed, Richardson still faces up to a year in jail for the remaining misdemeanour charges.

“This is still a stressful situation for her, but she’s moving forward,” Richardson’s attorney, Joyce David, told reporters outside of Brooklyn Supreme Court.

Richardson also has a modified order of protection through family court and is allowed to see her son during unsupervised visits at the child’s father’s home.

According to reports, the son told cops that his mother hit him on his left arm as discipline over his grades. He was later taken to a local hospital for an abrasion to his arm, according to the criminal complaint.

Richardson, who listed her son as her “greatest accomplishment” on her state assembly member biography page, was charged with second-degree assault, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal possession of a weapon and menacing.

The assault charge was a felony, while the others are misdemeanours, said Arlene Muniz, a spokeswoman for the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Richardson, who was elected in May 2015 on the Working Families ticket, represents the Brooklyn neighbourhoods of Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Wingate and East Flatbush.

The legislator is said to be a devoted single mother whose only child often accompanies her to political events.

Bill Lipton, New York State director of the small, left-leaning Working Families Party, said Richardson was committed to her son.

“He’s a really good kid,” he told the New York Times. “He’s super-precocious. I’ve seen her and her son together for many years. It’s a very close, loving relationship. He was on the campaign trail with her all the time,” Lipton said.