A Carson preschool facing allegations that children engaged in oral sex at the school was shut down Wednesday by state regulators.
The First Lutheran Child Development Center had been slated to close Feb. 15 because it had been unable to replace a full-time director, who resigned for personal reasons, the school said in a statement earlier this week.
But on Wednesday, the California Department of Social Services issued a temporary suspension order after it "determined there was an immediate risk to children in care" at the school located at 19707 S. Central Ave., according to a letter sent to parents.
A father of a 4-year-old boy at the school said his son received oral sex from a 5-year-old classmate.
"My son and this female student were found in the bathroom with my son’s pants and underwear around his ankles," said the man, whose name is being withheld to protect his son. "They have a sworn statement that an adult witnessed the little girl performing oral sex on my son."
Greg Owen, an attorney for the family, told NBC4 on Monday that the California Department of Social Services has cited the school for a lack of supervision and one sexual incident. He's also representing several clients who say there have been multiple incidents – at least seven, he said – of children performing oral sex at the school.
The school has 15 days to appeal the agency's decision.
