The husband of a woman who ran a day care out of their Piscataquis County home faces multiple charges for allegedly bribing young children with candy to show him their genitals.
David Russell, 69, of Parkman, was arrested this week. He has been charged with six counts of visual sexual aggression against a child, a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison; and one count of misdemeanor visual sexual aggression against a child, punishable by up to one year. The felony counts involved victims who were under the age of 12.
The alleged incidents occurred between June 1 and Oct. 31 this year at the Just Us Kids day care on Dairy Lane in Parkman, according to the Piscataquis County District Attorney’s Office.
Police began investigating after the Department of Health and Human Services and the county sheriff’s office started receiving complaints from parents of children who attended the day care.
DHHS spokeswoman Samantha Edwards said the day care owner, Pamela Russell, temporarily closed the facility on Oct. 12, when complaints started. No children have been in her care since. Pamela Russell also voluntarily surrendered her license on Oct. 20.
Edwards said DHHS encourages all parents to use the state’s public website, Child Care Choices, which has information about all licensed and certified providers, along with quality ratings and any disciplinary history.
The Parkman day care, licensed for a maximum of 12 children, had been in operation since 1997, Edwards said. The only previous complaint was in 1999, but it was unfounded.
David Russell, who has no prior criminal history in Maine, was released from jail on $2,500 bail on Wednesday. He is due to appear in court on Jan. 4.
Eric Russell can be contacted at 791-6344 or at:
Twitter: PPHEricRussell
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