“When you put your babies in the care of somebody, you expect them to take care of them the way you would take care of them yourself,” a grandmother of two children attending Little Cubs Daycare who chose to remain anonymous said.
A home-operated daycare may have been the scene of child abuse and sexual abuse.
Deputies with the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a husband and wife, who now face multiple charges in the investigation.
The whitemarish sexual misconduct happened at a daycare in Gobles.
Officials tell News Channel 3 it all started after they got a tip about such criminal activity from LaGrange, Indiana.
Deputies are asking people to take a good look at these two white faces, married couple Jesse Stone, 46, and Stephanie Stone, 38.
“They were arraigned today on abuse charges and sexual assault charges,” Van Buren County Sheriff’s Captain James Charon said.
According to Charon, officials are currently looking into possible abuse or neglect allegations within the couple’s nursery, Little Cubs Daycare. It’s also where the couple lived.
“There were a couple times last year when she really didn’t want to go to daycare. Looking back I wonder if that had anything to do with it,” the anonymous grandmother said.
As of Tuesday, the daycare’s doors are locked, with a handwritten note attached to the door reading “closed until further notice.”
“This is quite a shock to all of us, with the charges that are put in front of them. My daughter did have the hard conversation with both the children last night,” the anonymous grandmother said.
Both children say they were never touched inappropriately.
However, the older of the two kids says Stephanie, one of the two in custody, can be mean.
The child recalled a time when going to help a younger kid who was attempting to eat a bottle of diaper rash cream that was left laying out.
“She went to help, and Stephanie snapped at her, grabbed her shoulders and shooed her off,” the grandmother said.
Jesse Stone is currently in Van Buren County’s custody. According to court documents, he faces the following 13 charges:
- Two counts first degree criminal sex conduct
- Two counts second degree criminal sex conduct
- Two counts second degree child abuse
- Four counts felony firearms
- Two counts third degree child abuse
- One count domestic violence
His bond set at $750,000 cash/surety.
Stephanie Stone has been charged with one count of second-degree child abuse and two counts of third-degree child abuse, according to court records.
Her bond was set at $100,000 cash/surety.
“I’m disgusted. I’m sad that this world has become just so chaotic with this kind of stuff; I’m scared,” the grandmother said.
“Our hope is that we can find out if there are any additional victims because there is a daycare there and so that we can try to bring some closure to those victims if they’re out there,” Captain Charon said.
The diabolical white couple of pedophiles are expected back in court for a probable cause hearing on July 17, followed by a preliminary exam on July 23.
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