Man linked to sex abuse at wife’s day care in Mobile

MOBILE (AP) — A 56-year-old Mobile man has been arrested and charged with sexual abuse of three girls under 6 years old while they attended his wife’s day care center.

Gary Walter Burke was taken to Mobile County Metro Jail on Friday and held on three counts of first-degree sexual abuse. His bail was $22,500. The charge is a felony that could bring one to 10 years in prison upon conviction.

Burke’s Day Care operated out of the couple’s home off Dauphin Island Parkway. Rosalind Burke had a special license from the Alabama Department of Human Resources to operate the day care out of the home.

Authorities closed the day care in mid-April after a young girl accused Gary Burke of inappropriate sexual contact.

“Investigators believe that the sexual abuse occurred on multiple occasions during an extended period of time,” said Mobile police spokesman Officer Eric Gallichant.

Rose Johnson, Mobile County DHR director, said Friday that she could not comment on the case.

Assistant District Attorney Steve Giardini, who prosecutes child abuse cases, said that the girls accused Gary Burke of fondling them.

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