NASHUA, N.H. (AP) – A former day-care worker was sentenced Monday to at least 50 years in prison for molesting 12 children on the job.
Shane Vadney, 23, had pleaded guilty in Hillsborough County Superior Court in July to 42 charges as part of a plea deal. Twenty of the charges were aggravated felonious sexual assault, each punishable by up to 10 to 20 years in prison, and the others were lesser felony and misdemeanor assault charges.
Parents and victims packed the court, some of them yelling at Vadney at times.
Vadney was charged with molesting 10 girls and two boys at the Circle of learning child-care center where he worked as a teacher’s assistant until being arrested on Feb. 15. Prosecutors said Vadney molested the children, who ranged from 2 years old to 6 years old, during nap times when he was alone with them in the classroom.
Prosecutors said the abuse started in August 2004.
If Vadney successfully completes sex-offender counseling, he could get out of prison in 45 years, at age 68.
The state Child care Licensing Bureau revoked the Circle of Learning’s license last month, citing safety concerns and allegations that the owner swindled the state out of about $10,000 by submitting bogus tuition reimbursement claims. State officials said the revocation wasn’t connected to the Vadney case. The owner of the day-care center, Georgia Flynn, is appealing the decision.
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