Westerville receives 35 more calls on daycare worker accused of sexually abusing child

WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WSYX) — More complaints of sexual misconduct against an area daycare worker are emerging out of Westerville only a day after a grand jury indicted preschool teacher David Cantrell on gross sexual imposition (GSI).

According to Westerville Police, the department has received 35 more calls since Cantrell's arrest Wednesday and plans to follow up with two more families.

According to a 22-page report released by WPD Wednesday, officers say they were first called on the preschool teacher last May when the parents of a four-year-old student at the Nest School accused Cantrell of touching and abusing their daughter as she went to the bathroom. Cantrell admitted to assisting the student but denied any molestation.

However, police say Cantrell failed portions of his truth verification exam last June when asked about the matter.

The report also reveals Cantrell has faced more than a half dozen other allegations at other schools and his home since February of 2021.

At La Petite Academy in early 2022, administrators told police a parent complained that Cantrell inappropriately touched her child during what was described as "tickle tag." He was fired for not reporting the incident.

Before that, WPD states Cantrell had worked at KinderCare on Eastwind Drive. There, Franklin County Children Services received a complaint that Cantrell inappropriately touched a two-year-old child. Children Services told police the referral did not become a case because it "does not meet the criteria for service."

In August and September of 2020, WPD found Cantrell worked at Gahanna Children's College where he was fired due to a previous theft charge.

Police say he also worked at Trinity Learning Center in Pickerington which is now closed.

Throughout the 22 pages, WPD cites more than a half dozen referrals to Children Services on Cantrell from February 2021 that involved a nine-year-old girl and claims of inappropriate touching and kissing. FCCS found that to be unsubstantiated.

Three more complaints emerged that year with different children and four more in 2022.

ABC6 On Your Side Problem Solvers is now asking FCCS how they handle multiple complaints, especially those targeting a childcare worker, and if their action on Cantrell's past referrals will be reviewed.

FCCS representatives asked Problem Solvers for Westerville's report which was provided. They say they'll release a full statement by the end of the week but emailed Problem Solvers this comment Thursday:

"Although the information about the previous allegations provided to our screening department may not have been sufficient by law to open an investigation by Franklin County Children Services, it’s important to note that any time there is an allegation of a criminal offense (which could include physical or sexual abuse), we refer those cases to law enforcement."

According to WPD's report, Cantrell told an FCCS case worker in July of last year that "moving forward he will not be alone with any of the children or be changing them without another teacher present. The caseworker said she does believe that would be beneficial."

If found guilty of his current charge of GSI, Cantrell could face up to five years in prison.