The 19-year-old accused of molesting preschoolers at the Park Hill Children’s Center today pled guilty to felony counts tied to nine victims.
Benjamin Janicki, who hesitated when a judge asked him whether he wanted to plead guilty, faces up to 40 years in prison and will have to register as a sex offender.
He told the judge he’d been feeling depressed.
“This is what life has forced me to take,” Janicki said. “This is the best I can take.”
Janicki worked as a teachers aide at the children’s center in 2010.
Authorities said that between June 1 and Aug. 3, Janicki may have fondled and sexually assaulted as many as a dozen children.
Janicki pleaded guilty to attempted counts of sexual assault and first degree assault, which is a Class 3 felony crime of violence and requires offenders to complete more of their sentence.
A spokeswoman for the Denver District District Attorney’s office said that none of the children were seriously, physically injured.
His plea agreement does not prevent charges related to other victims in the future.
Janicki is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22.
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com.
