Sexual Abuse in Texas Daycares and Childcare Facilities

In 2012, Jose de Jesus Arteaga was arrested in El Paso for sexually assaulting a girl in a daycare facility operated by his wife in their home. According to court documents, the victim reported that the sexual abuse occurred when Arteaga would take the victim to another room of the home or while the other children were playing outside. Although they are rare, cases like this one represent a nightmare scenario for parents who use the services of a daycare facility.

If you send your child to a daycare facility and suspect your child has been sexually abused or molested, our Texas daycare abuse attorneys at Carabin Shaw can help you by answering any questions you may have about a potential case in a free initial consultation.

Unfortunately, child sexual abuse often goes unreported because children do not disclose the abuse out of fear, shame, guilt, or simply not understanding that the abuse is happening to them. Because of this, it is critical that parents know the warning signs of child sexual abuse.

Listed below are some of the most common physical and behavioral signs of child sexual abuse that parents should be aware of:

Physical signs of abuse in children include pain, bleeding, bruising, itching, or frequent discomfort near the genital region.

Common behavioral signs of sexual abuse include anxiety, fear of adults or daycare employees, night terrors or bedwetting, and sexualized play with toys or other children.

If you are concerned that your child may have been improperly touched or sexually victimized in a daycare, contact us. One of our Texas sexual abuse lawyers can provide resources to help you and your child through this difficult time.

After a child confides in you that they have been a victim of sexual abuse, a child’s needs and safety should be prioritized by doing the following:

• Address your child in a calm tone so that they may feel safe. Let the child know it is not their fault.
• Contact the police and report the abuse immediately.
• Assure your child that you believe them. Research indicates that children rarely lie about sexual abuse.
• Remove your child from the place where the abuse is occurring.

Parents should also consider contacting a firm of child injury attorneys in Texas so that they can file a civil lawsuit against the abuser, the daycare, and any others who allowed the abuse to happen. Filing a civil lawsuit can lead to recovering compensation for your child’s physical and emotional suffering as well as any monetary expenses that your family has incurred as a result of the abuse.

Sometimes parents feel like they have all the evidence they need to sue a daycare, but institutions rarely admit liability when it comes to abuse. In truth, cases of sexual abuse in Texas daycares and childcare facilities can become complicated and require the expertise of a child injury attorney.

An experienced lawyer can investigate a claim by petitioning for the daycare to turn over potential evidence, file a civil lawsuit against the abuser and negligent child care institution, and represent the victim in court if necessary.

When your child suffers sexual abuse while attending daycare, anyone involved in the abuse should be held liable for the damage they’ve done. The legal team at Carabin Shaw has been helping Texans fight for the compensation they deserve for nearly three decades, and we can review your case for free.

Contact us toll-free at 800-862-1260 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. We have both English and Spanish-speaking staff available to assist you 24/7.