On February 2, 2024, the Florida Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) issued an Emergency Suspension Order on the license of Country Cubs Learning Center located at 12294 US 301 N. in Parrish, Florida, due to sexual misconduct allegations. The owner of the daycare, Sanjay Das, was arrested on January 31, 2024, after a long-running investigation. He stands accused of committing lewd and lascivious acts on two teenage girls who worked at the daycare center in 2023. Das, 58, was released on a $20,000 bond.
According to media reports, Manatee County Sheriff's Office Crimes Against Children detectives say they first learned about an allegation that the owner, Sanjay Das, inappropriately touched a teenage girl last summer in 2023. Detectives stated that they interviewed several staff members, including a former hiring manager who indicated that she had been given a directive to specifically look for young teenage girls to work at the daycare.
According to officials, detectives spent several months interviewing employees and conducting an investigation and found an additional teenage girl victim who experienced similar contact with Das while working at Country Cubs. The police said they had probable cause to charge Das with lewd and lascivious molestation and lewd and lascivious touching of certain minors. Department of Children and Families closed the learning center pending further investigation.
Daycare should be a safe place for your children. However, many children each year face sexual abuse from daycare staff. There's nothing more devastating as a parent than finding out your child is being taken advantage of by a trusted adult. If you suspect daycare staff is harming your child in this way, knowing the warning signs can help you investigate the situation, take appropriate action, and remove your child from an unsafe environment. Learn more about common signs and red flags to look for child sexual abuse at school.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse in schools, daycares, and various educational settings. If you or a loved one was sexually abused, raped, or sexually molested by a principal, teacher, or another school employee, contact our law firm at 888-283-9922.