Newburgh Child Care Arrest
By: LaTonya Stephens
Updated: August 12, 2007
For years Brenda Simmons ran a daycare out of her home on Clark Street.
That is until the arrest of 39 year old Rick Simmons Friday.
He was charged with molesting four children in the home as well as two children of his own.
Next door neighbor Blonnie Stewart says she was shocked by his arrest but admitted she was leery of him from the start.
She says her child was in the daycare briefly but says Simmons presence in the home and his relationship with his daughter made her leery.
Newburgh police officer Gretchen Mayse says it was parents concerned their child was abuse that started the investigation.
That followed by several interviews led them to arrest Simmons who eventually implicated himself.
This isnt the first time Simmons has been accused on child molestation he was also accused in 1999 in Anderson, IN while working for the Newburgh fire department.
Sgt. Mayse says currently there are no children in the daycare.
But they are concerned that Simmons may have molested other children over the years.
He is currently in the Warrick county jail.
If convicted he could face up to 20 years for each felony.
