Coeur d’Alene daycare shut down after lewd conduct allegations

A Coeur d’Alene daycare has been shut down by police after a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of repeated instances of lewd conduct involving children at the daycare.

A woman called police on Jan. 31 to report that her child was the victim of lewd conduct at a private daycare at 3707 N. Belmont. The mother said that a similar incident involving the same teenage boy had occurred in August and was reported to the daycare owner, according to a police department press release.

Police believe that additional sex crimes have occurred at the daycare since August and the owner did not report them as required by Idaho law, the press release said.

The owner of the daycare, whose name has not been released by police, is under investigation for failure to protect minor children in her care and her daycare license has been revoked.

The 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of lewd and lascivious conduct. His name has not been released because he is a minor.