Ex-day care owner charged with sexual abuse of 2 girls

A former home day care center owner has been charged with sexually abusing two girls in his care in the late 1990s, state police said Monday.

The victims, now 22, contacted state police after confiding in each other about their similar experiences while attending the day care center, Master Cpl. Gary E. Fournier said.

William Semonavick Jr., 67, of Dover, was charged with three counts of first-degree unlawful sexual intercourse, two counts of second-degree unlawful sexual contact and continuous sexual abuse of a child, Fournier said.

Police also are seeking other potential victims.

Charged after turning himself in Friday at Troop 3 in Dover, Semonavick later was released after posting $13,000 secured bail, he said.

The investigation began in January when the women came forward, reporting Semonavick sexually abused them in the late 1990s while they attended Village Kids Daycare Center, which he owned and operated in the 1400 block of John Clark Road, Fournier said.

One of the victims was 4 when she attended his day care center from about January 1996 until her parents withdrew her the following March, he said.

She told police he had sexually abused her on at least three different occasions, Fournier said.

The second woman, who was 6 at the time, reported "similar experiences with Semonavick" while she attended his day care center from November 1998 through December 2000, he said.

Village Kids Daycare, which was licensed from 1995 through 2008, Fournier said. The center is now closed, he said.

"Because of the sensitivity of this case, and in consideration of the victims, only limited information will be released," Fournier said.

If anyone feels they may have been a victim of Semonavick, he said, he or she is asked to contact Detective P. Surowiec at (302) 741-2814.

Information also may be provided by sending texts with the keyword DSP to 274637 (CRIMES) or through Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 and www.tipsubmit.com.

Contact robin brown at (302) 324-2856 or rbrown@delawareonline.com. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @rbrowndelaware.