SALT LAKE CITY — The co-owner of a longtime home day care in Salt Lake City was charged Tuesday with 18 felonies accusing him of sexually abusing young children.

Mark Timothy Nigh, 57, was charged in 3rd District Court with nine counts of sodomy on a child and nine counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child. All are first-degree felonies.

Nigh and his wife run a home day care, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report. Tammie Nigh Daycare, 1061 W. Briarcliff Ave., has been in business for 16 years and is licensed by the state, according to Salt Lake police.

Mark Nigh sexually abused at least three young girls, ages 2 and 3, on at least three separate occasions, the report states. The alleged abuse dates back to 2011 and occurred as recently as two weeks ago, according to charging documents.

Bail was set at $500,000.

Because of how long the day care has been operating, investigators said they fear there may be other victims and asked that anyone with information call police at 801-799-3000.

— Pat Reavy