06/13/2003

By kgw.com and AP Staff

A 12-year-old Keizer boy has been accused of molesting a young girl at his mother's day-care center, police said.

The boy, identified by police as Kai Anton Branlund, is charged with felony sexual abuse and unlawful sexual penetration. Detectives think the boy might have molested other children at the Keizer Learning Tree Day School, Keizer police Sgt. Jeff Kuhns said Friday.

(kgw.com graphic)

"We believe other victims have been identified," Kuhns said.

Based on detectives' interviews thus far, Kuhns said police would be "requesting additional criminal charges be filed against Kai Branlund for similar types of conduct against other children."

Police arrested the boy after receiving a complaint from the parents of a 5-year-old girl. The boy was picked up at Whiteaker Middle School in Keizer and taken to the Keizer Police Department for questioning, Kuhns said. He was arrested following his interview and is being held at the Marion County juvenile detention center without bail.

His mother, Sandra Branlund, has owned the day care center for about five years and still is operating it, said her attorney, Kevin T. Lafky.

The boy is developmentally disabled and functions at the mental level of a 7-year-old, Lafky said.

"This isn't a typical 12-year-old child," he said.

Lafky said the owner is cooperating with the investigation and sent a letter to parents urging them to contact Keizer detectives if they think their child has been molested.

Police said the boy was often at the day care center when he wasn’t attending school.

Several mothers picking up their children at the Keizer Learning Tree said they were properly informed by the owner and still feel comfortable leaving their children there.

"(The owner's) just wonderful with the kids," said Beverly Aydelotte, who has been bringing her two children to the center for four years.

Owners of other Learning Tree day-care centers were quick to distance themselves from the incident. The name is licensed and used by independently owned and operated day-care operations, they said.

There are about 35 day-care centers in Oregon that have licensed the name, including six in nearby Salem.