With a handful of parents looking on, the 19-year-old former classroom aide accused of molesting four pre-schoolers at Park Hill Children’s Center pleaded not guilty today in a Denver District courtroom.
Ben Janicki faces counts of sex assault on a child and sex assault on a child from a person in a position of trust — Class 4 and Class 3 felonies, respectively — for each of the four children he’s accused of molesting during the summer of 2010.
The mother of one of the pre-schoolers said she and her husband are hoping the charges can be resolved without a trial, which could require the young victims to testify in court.
Speaking after Janicki’s arraignment, she said she thought more victims could be added to the case against Janicki.
She asked that her name be withheld to protect the identity of her child, who is a victim in the case.
“It seems there are new cases they’re trying to roll into this one,” she said. “It breaks your heart because you know there are other kids, and you want closure.”
Prosecutor Shannon O’Connor said she couldn’t confirm whether charges would be filed on the behalf of additional victims.
Some Park Hill parents believe Janicki sneaked chances to abuse as many as a dozen children while he worked as a part-time classroom aid.
The day care has since reformed its practices to prevent adult workers from being alone with children and to improve communication between indoor and outdoor areas of the school.
A representative from the Denver City Attorney’s office appeared in court today, asking that the city’s Department of Human Services investigation into the alleged abuse be read first privately by the Judge Shelley Gilman, rather than in open court to protect the names of children and informants.
Gilman scheduled what Janicki’s two-week trial for the weeks of Aug. 9 and 16.
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com.
