Denver police said they now believe three children were victims of a day-care aide accused of sexual assault at Park Hill United Methodist Children’s Center.
Investigators said they have reason to believe there are more victims.
Sunday afternoon, police held an emergency meeting for the parents of children attending the day-care center.
The Colorado Department of Human Services closed the center Friday.
Officials said they found “serious and significant supervision issues” during a recent visit.
Several parents said Sunday that they are concerned but don’t blame the church, which some described as being the cornerstone of their community.
“I think we’ve got a circumstance of one bad apple,” Kevin Hodgson said.
“We’ve got a fantastic reputation,” mother Staci Amend said. “This has got to be an isolated incident, or it wouldn’t have been such an incredibly important place for our whole neighborhood for all these years.”
Police arrested 19-year-old Benjamin Janicki on Wednesday. Police had originally identified the suspect as Benjamin Janicicki, 20.
According to court documents, a young girl at the center told her parents she had been “licked and tickled” by Janicki.
Police say they will not release details surrounding what happened to the other two victims nor will they release a mug shot.
An e-mail sent to parents of the children said Janicki was a summer hire as a prekindergarten aide. Those who work at the school said he is an alumnus of the school. Records showed Janicki has no previous arrests.
Sunday’s closed meeting lasted nearly three hours, with parents speaking with a child psychologist. There are 100 families scrambling to find alternative care. Some are finding it takes up to 18 months to get into other programs.
A judge raised Janicki’s bail to $650,000 after the third victim was discovered.
