A Toronto babysitter previously accused of sexually assaulting a six-year-old boy is now facing 12 new charges in connection with alleged offences involving three other children.
Speaking to reporters at Toronto police headquarters on Wednesday afternoon, Sex Crimes Detective Remo D’Antonio said the new charges were laid after investigators received tips from members of the public following the suspect’s arrest on March 16.
Last month, investigators say a man who advertised his babysitting services online through care.com was contacted by parents who viewed his profile and resume online.
On March 5th, police say the man went to the parents’ home in the area of Woodbine and Danforth avenues to babysit their six-year-old son.
The child, police say, later told his parents that the babysitter had sexually assaulted him.
The babysitter was arrested and charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference.
At that time, police released details of the suspect’s employment history and said they were concerned that there may be additional victims.
Following the release of that information, police say three new complainants came forward with allegations.
The new charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred between 2012 and 2015.
According to D’Antonio, between June 2012 and December 2013, the man allegedly sexually assaulted a young child he was babysitting on two separate occasions at homes in the Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue area and the Kingston Road and Victoria Park Avenue area.
Police say the suspect also allegedly sexually assaulted an eight-year-old boy he was babysitting at the child’s home in the Pape Avenue and Dundas Street East area between September 2015 and December 2015.
The third child, who police say was eight years old at the time, was allegedly sexually assaulted while the suspect was babysitting him at his home in the area of Pape and Danforth avenues in October 2015.
In addition to the previous charges, police say Daniel Harker, 23, is now also facing five counts of sexual assault, five counts of sexual interference, one count of invitation to sexual touching and one count of committing an indecent act.
“We are concerned that there might be more victims out there. In our investigation, we’ve learned that Daniel Harker has had quite a bit of contact with children through those employment avenues."
“It has been probably since 2012 that he has been involved in employment where children are involved and besides that, he’s babysat for private citizens and so there is obviously a lot of contact where perhaps he’s left alone with children. So we are appealing to the public for any other victims or families out there that wish to contact us regarding their involvement with him.”
Police say Harker was previously employed at the following places:
· Pape Avenue Junior Public School, located at 220 Langley Ave.
· SH Armstrong Community Centre, located at 56 Woodfield Rd.
· Gledhill Child Care Centre, located at 2 Gledhill Ave.
· Various locations, including wading pools and gym classes, as a City of Toronto part-time recreation worker.
