Man Faces 8 Molestation Charges

Prosecutors filed eight felony charges Thursday against a Simi Valley man accused of molesting at least five girls enrolled in his wife’s home day-care center.

Kenyon Niedert, 63, appeared briefly in a Ventura courtroom but an arraignment was postponed after a public defender asked for more time.

A prosecutor said the charges filed Thursday involve five girls but suggested additional victims may emerge as investigators continue to interview children who attended the facility.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if additional counts are added at the arraignment,” Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Jacqueline Tilkens said.

Meanwhile, state regulators suspended the day-care license held by Niedert’s wife, Billie, after determining that she failed to provide adequate care and supervision to children in her care.

State officials say they will seek to permanently revoke her license to operate Niedert Family Child Care. Billie Niedert received the license in 1984 and was allowed to supervise up to 14 children in her home in the 4000 block of Helene Street.

“We don’t take this lightly,” said John Gordon, spokesman for the state Department of Social Services. “If it did happen, she is responsible because she deals with care and supervision.”

Kenyon Niedert was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of molesting the children, ages 3 to 11. Early that morning, his wife had called several families and told them not to bring their children to the house.

“This case is very tragic for our community,” Tilkens said. “It’s a horrible crime.”

In addition to eight counts of child molestation, Niedert faces special allegations that make him eligible for a sentence of 15 years to life if found guilty, Tilkens said.

Investigators believe that Niedert began molesting girls in the day-care center over the summer and continued until this month.

The families are devastated and are struggling to deal with how their children may have suffered at the center, Tilkens said.

Several family members attended Thursday’s hearing, comforting each other with hugs. Some parents stared hard at Niedert, a retired electrician, while others appeared to avoid looking at him.

No charges have been filed against Billie Niedert, and Tilkens declined to say whether she was being investigated.

Niedert, who is being held on $500,000 bail, is due back in court for arraignment March 22.