A 19-year-old day-care aide is facing at least three felony counts of sexual abuse on three preschool children, the Denver District Attorney’s Office said.
Benjamin Janicki was a summer hire at Park Hill United Methodist Children’s Center who was arrested last week. His case prompted the state Department of Human Services to close the center while it investigates “serious and significant supervision issues,” the agency stated.
Janicki faces an additional three counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, which also are felonies. The District Attorney’s Office said in a media release that the investigation is ongoing and “additional charges are possible.”
Parents were told the alleged victims were 3- and 4-year-old girls, and that there well could be more than three victims.
Janicki attended the school as a child and had worked there for about eight weeks, according to school administrators. The school’s website notes that all its staff pass background checks, but Janicki had no previous arrest record, records show.
Janicki is being held in the Denver Detention Center on a $650,000 bond.
His next court appearance is Aug. 16.
