City releases details of sex abuse at Manassas Park day care

It’s a parent’s worst nightmare – discovering a trusted caregiver has abused their child.

But in September 2010, the mother of an 8-year-old girl who attended a child care facility operated by Manassas Park City officials – the city’s extended care program, Costello Park Preschool – learned just that. That’s when the girl, according to a press release from Manassas Park City Manager James Zumwalt, notified her mother of incidents she said took place at the day care facility over the previous two months.

The allegations, according to the release, were “that in July and August of 2010 an employee of the city’s extended care program exposed himself to an 8-year-old child, engaged in sexual contact with the child, gave the child money, and told the child not to tell her parent … The victim’s mother learned of the incident from her child on September 15” and reported that information to the city Parks and Recreation director, Catherine Morretta, that same day.

Morretta, in turn, notified the Manassas Park police officer stationed at the community center on Adams Street, and both city police and social service officials launched an investigation. The Virginia Department of Social Services Division of Licensing Programs was called to investigate, too, since the day care is licensed by the state.

The accused day care employee was a minor and was placed on administrative leave on Sept. 15 and subsequently fired, Morretta said, in a Wednesday interview arranged by her and Zumwalt. Officials did not identify the employee.

As of Wednesday, though, parents with children in the day care program – there are about 90, Morretta estimated – had yet to be told of the incident.

Those parents, Morretta said, would be informed “tomorrow –"  meaning Thursday, Jan. 20.

“Since both the victim and accused were juveniles, the right and additionally required thing to do was not to make a public announcement at that time,” said Zumwalt, also at the interview.

On top of that, the case is still under investigation and in the hands of the Prince William Commonwealth’s Attorney, he said.

The interview with Morretta and Zumwalt came at the conclusion of the state’s investigation into the day care operations, at the point “when the city is required to post the violation notice,” according to the press release.

The notice from the state finds the Manassas Park day care in violation of several paperwork requirements, all of which the city is appealing. For instance, the state said neither “Staff B” nor “Staff E” had a “criminal records check nor central registry finding on file,” and that “Staff C’s central registry finding … had not been renewed within three years.” The city, however, is appealing those findings and says the files have been updated to reflect adherence to the state documentation policies. Morretta said the city hoped to have the appeal brought to “trial in the near term.”

The city is not disputing the child’s sexual abuse claims, though, which the state also upheld as factual.

“Interviews conducted with staff, child A, child A’s parent and law enforcement revealed the following: Staff A, who was employed by the center failed to ensure child A’s care, protection and guidance,” according to a copy of the state violation notice. “During summer camp in July and August 2010, staff A and child A -- 8 years of age -- entered a single use bathroom. Staff A exposed himself to child A on at least two occasions and engaged in sexual contact with the child.”

The state also found evidence to support the victim’s claim that she was given money following sexual contact with the accused minor, and then told “not to tell her parent about the incident,” according to the violation notice.

Morretta said since the incident, the day care has “reviewed all the internal processes and procedures.”

The before-after child care facility has been in operation by the city for roughly 20 years, she said. To both Zumwalt’s and Morretta’s knowledge, no similar charges or incidents involving the program have ever surfaced.

Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-530-3903.