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| Day Care Employee, Youth Pastor Accused of Sexually Molesting Mentally Disabled Client
WFTV
July 19, 2012
http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/day-care-employee-youth-pastor-accused-sexually-mo/nPygp/
[with video]
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Investigators said two children may have been sexually abused by a worker at a Eustis daycare, and on Thursday, that daycare was shut down.
Detectives said Kenneth Hagins worked for Pat's Kidz World Development Center on South Eustis Street, as well as Sunrise Arc Group Homes, which is also in Lake County.
"We have two separate reports involving the same suspect, and these are the cases we're looking into," said Lt. John Herrell of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
WFTV was there when Pat's Kidz day care closed about 5 p.m. and spoke with parents who were shocked by the allegations.
The Department Of Children
"Do you think what's gone on is unfair?" asked WFTV's Ryan Hughes.
"For them to be closed down? Yes, because I honestly don't believe they knew what was going on," said parent Kathryn Cline.
DCF took the owner's license because she's accused of not reporting child sexual abuse allegations involving
A DCF spokeswoman told WFTV at least two children were possibly abused by
One of the victims is a 4-year-old boy, according to officials.
"It's a shock to anyone if your kids go to a day care and you hear something like that," said Cheryl,whose five grandchildren went to the day care.
Cline was visibly upset as she defended the business.
"When they're able to open back up I'll bring them back here because these people have been the people I have ever had," she said.
There's no word when or if the day care will
Hagins, who is also a youth pastor, is also accused of sexually molesting an 18-year-old mentally disabled client at Sunrise Arc.
WFTV confronted Hagins' former boss there, who said Hagins was quickly put on leave once the allegations surfaced.
"When these allegations were made two days ago, we were the ones that went to the authorities and reported the allegations," said Sunrise Arc President Mark Swain.
"And he's honestly a very nice man to everybody, nothing I expected," said Cline.
Hagins was being interviewed by sheriff's office detectives Thursday night. He hasn't been arrested.
The parents and grandparents WFTV spoke to said they've talked to their children about the abuse.
At Hagins' apartment in Tavares, relatives insisted he is innocent and that he cares about the disabled people he works with.
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