Day care employee arrested for sexual abuse of children, sheriff says
By Lindsay Weber, Peyton Headlee
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LIVE OAK, California (KCRA) — A Sutter County day care worker is accused of sexually abusing multiple children who were in his care, leading to the revocation of the facility’s license, according to the sheriff’s office.
On Monday, the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office said it received a report of suspected child sexual abuse at Kruse Oralia Family Child Care Home, a state-licensed facility in Live Oak.
Following an investigation, officials said deputies arrested Steven Kruse, 63, an employee at the day care, for multiple felonies, including oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child under 10, lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and dissuading a witness from reporting a crime.
“He was kind of in charge of the transportation. So, he would take children to and from schools or to and from their homes for daycare services,” Sierra Pedley, spokesperson for the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office, said. “To my knowledge, currently, most of the incidents did happen in the home, though.”
Pedley said the day care has been in business since 2006, is owned by Kruse’s wife, and is run out of their home.
These allegations are not the first against this day care facility. In December 2023, the California Department of Social Services received a complaint about alleged sexual abuse at the daycare.
State documents say a child reported being touched inappropriately by an adult who is not named in the report. But the investigator determined the claims could not be substantiated.
“The case from 2023 is being reopened and we will be investigating additionally on that. The incident from 2023 and the incident from yesterday are two separate victims,” Pedley said.
The city of Live Oak issued a revocation of business license to the day care facility after the charges were filed.
“This action was taken in accordance with the city of Live Oak Municipal Code,” the city shared in a statement. “Specifically related to relevant, active issues under police consideration and for the general safeguard of the public.”
Parents told KCRA 3 that the day care was open and operating on Wednesday morning, and that they learned about the allegations against Kruse after dropping their children off via a Facebook post from the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office.
KCRA 3 tried to speak with someone at the day care Wednesday, but they didn’t answer the door or phone calls.
Additionally, the sheriff’s office notified the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division of the allegations, and an administrative investigation into the facility was opened.
Kruse is set to appear in court on Friday. He is being held without bail.
Anyone with additional information related to the case is urged to contact Detective Rhiley Harrison or Sergeant Ernesto Chavez at 530-822-7307.
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