Boy, 14, Charged With Lewd Acts At Auburn Daycare

AUBURN (CBS13) - A 14-year-old boy was arrested for lewd and lascivious acts against two other children at an Auburn daycare on Tuesday and the center was shut down by the state.

The boy, whose name was not released because of his age, was taken into custody by Placer County sheriff's detectives at Colored Pencils Preschool and Child Care at 13335 Luther Road. The boy, who is related to the preschool owner, lives in the home that is part of the daycare center.

The boy was questioned at the Placer County Sheriff's Office and then was going to be booked at Placer County Juvenile Hall in Auburn.

"These are your neighbors," said a father who didn't want to be identified. "These are people who are supposed to look out for neighborhood children."

State documents obtained by CBS13 show the owner, Alma Arroyo, was confronted with allegations the teen molested children at her daycare. But investigators say she reported nothing, not a word to police or the state.

"She let it go on for so long, if it was going on," the father said. "Her son was always there, the son of the daycare director. Who knows how long it's been going on?"

That enraged father had his 3-year-old daughter enrolled there for about a year.

He says he pulled her out several weeks ago after hearing disturbing rumors about the 14-year-old boy.

Neighbors never saw this coming.

"Shoots baskets, just a regular guy," one man said of the teen.

"And you've never seen anything that makes you think twice one way or another?" CBS13's Nick Janes asked.

"No way."

The state Department of Social Services' complaint alleges at least once in June or July the 14-year-old molested two children.

The father we spoke with is sick to his stomach with worry his little girl could be another victim because of what she's told him.

"Hopefully there will be justice for any kid that was victimized," he said.

Now what was supposed to be a safe haven for young children is shut down, possibly for good.

If Social Services has its way, Arroyo will never own or work in a licensed child care facility again. Colored Pencils has been licensed since 2005, according to the state.

"And how unresponsible are you to run a child care, leave your 14-year-old, 15-year-old, whatever, by himself with a whole bunch of little kids, none older than 8 years old?" the father questioned.

Arroyo didn't return calls for comment.