NORRIDGEWOCK — The husband of a former day-care center operator charged with three counts of unlawful sexual contact is facing additional accusations that he molested two other children.
Somerset County District Attorney Maeghan Maloney said Wednesday that an investigation is underway into allegations that Horace Barstow, 67, of Norridgewock, had unlawful sexual contact with two more girls under the age of 12 at ABC 123 Child Care.
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Barstow already faces three charges of unlawful sexual contact with children under the age of 12 at the day-care facility run by his wife, Barbara Barstow, at their home at 43 Upper Main St. in Norridgewock.
Because of the new information, a preliminary hearing that was scheduled for Wednesday in Skowhegan District Court was delayed until June 19.
Maloney said unlawful sexual contact is a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. She also said Barstow, a former sheriff’s deputy for the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department and a reserve officer for the Norridgewock Police Department, has no prior record.
He completed his reserve officer’s training in June 1980, according to Dale Lancaster, chief deputy of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department, and was employed by the county as a reserve deputy from April 1985 through March 2001.
In 2005 he was honored for 25 years of service to the town’s Fire Department.
According to records from the Department of Health and Human Services, ABC 123 Child Care opened in November 2008 as a day-care center for up to 12 children. Before that, Barbara Barstow operated Family Child Care at the same residence. That business was licensed from 1998 through 2008, although in January 2007 Barbara Barstow’s license was made conditional after she failed to pay a $500 fine for repeated violations of operating over capacity.
It was also cited for letting a baby sleep outside a crib in February 2000 and for lead paint hazards in June 2000.
Other complaints filed with the department were found to be unsubstantiated.
Rachel Ohm — 612-2368
rohm@mainetoday.com
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