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Son Of Vallejo Daycare Owners Rearrested On Molestation Charge

VALLEJO (CBS SF) - The son of the operators of a Vallejo day care center has been rearrested on molestation charges, Vallejo police said Monday.

Samuel Cowper, 30, turned himself in at the Solano County Sheriff's Office on Thursday afternoon, Sgt. Jeff Bassett said.

He was booked into Solano County Jail and is being held on $90,000 bail on charges of committing lewd acts with a child under age 14 and possession of obscene materials depicting a minor engaging in or simulating sexual conduct.

Cowper's preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 25.

Cowper is the son of Charles and Mary Cowper, who operated Mary's Daycare at 1363 Elliot Drive.

The California Department of Social Services suspended the day care center's license in December when Cowper was first arrested on suspicion of inappropriately touching a child who had attended the day care center, now 13, when she was between 3 and 7 years old, and taking nude photographs of an 8-year-old girl.

Department spokesman Oscar Ramirez said the allegations against Mary's Daycare include allowing Samuel Cowper to reside at the facility without a background check, and allowing children to have access to dangerous objects, including a knife and drugs, on Dec. 9, 2010.

Ramirez said the Department of Social Services is seeking a lifetime exclusion of Samuel Cowper from any licensed day care facility and that the Department intends to suspend the license of Mary's Daycare permanently.

Cowper was released from jail in December while Vallejo police further investigated the allegations, Bassett said.

He was rearrested Thursday on a warrant related to alleged offenses against the same victims, Bassett said.

Police are looking for any other past clients of Mary's Daycare who might be affected by the case, Bassett said. Anyone who believes their child might have been victimized is asked to call Detective John Whitney or Detective Ted Postolaki (800) 488-9383.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services may have contributed to this report.)

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