Philadelphia police have arrested the owner of South Philadelphia’s Sprouts Children’s Center after allegations surfaced claiming he raped two 5-year-old children – a boy and a girl – that were in his care.
On Wednesday, Duncan Round, 53, of the 100 block of Cheyenne Trail in Medford Lakes, New Jersey, turned himself into police after he was sought in the alleged rapes of the two young victims.
Capt. Mark Burgmann of the Philadelphia Police’s Special Victims Unit, said that the allegations came to light on July 25th, but he refused to discuss the actual dates of the alleged offenses or over how long a period they may have occurred, though police said assaults had occurred on multiple occasions.
He said that authorities were alerted to the allegations after “the children just weren’t acting right.”
Burgmann said that Round has owned the daycare for 10 years and police are concerned that there may be other victims who have yet to come forward.
“These weren’t the only children in the daycare,” said Burgmann during a Wednesday afternoon news conference announcing Round’s arrest. “We are concerned that there may be more victims.”
Law enforcement officials said the daycare currently enrolls about 37 children.
Burgmann said that Round has been charged with seven felonies, including two counts of rape, involuntary deviant sexual assault, corruption of a minor, indecent exposure and related charges.
“We aren’t saying there are [more victims] but, we are going to err on the side of caution,” said Burgmann on his decision to ask potential victims to come forward.
Anyone who may have concerns about their child and Sprouts Children’s Center is asked to contact the Philadelphia Special Victims Unit.
