Morgan Hill police arrested a YMCA childcare employee on suspicion of sexually abusing a 6-year-old child under his care, and subsequently found more evidence that more children may have been victimized by the suspect, authorities said.
Officers were notified last Friday that the 6-year-old girl complained that Nicolas Lhermine, 20 of Morgan Hill, forced her to engage in a “lewd and lascivious act” while attending a local YMCA childcare program, according to Morgan Hill Police Capt. Shane Palsgrove.
Police arrested Lhermine the same day the child reported the incident, Palsgrove said. Upon further investigation, officers found evidence of child pornography in his possession – including an obscene photograph of an underage girl.
“We collected his cell phone and other electronic equipment, and located some images of persons under the age of 18,” Palsgrove said. “We confirmed the identity of one of those people, and we’re doing a forensic analysis to try and locate others, or find out if they are of age, or if they are the same person.”
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office charged Lhermine with sexual acts with a child age 10 or younger, and possession of child pornography. He is scheduled to be arraigned at South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Police and YMCA officials are in the process of notifying parents of other children who may have been in contact with Lhermine, who has worked at the YMCA for four years in various capacities, Palsgrove said.
Lhermine had violated several YMCA policies that were in place to prevent staff from being alone with the children, and the nonprofit organization is conducting its own investigation to determine how the suspect ended up alone with the 6-year-old victim, YMCA CEO Elizabeth Jordan said.
Furthermore, YMCA officials saw no red flags indicating that Lhermine could not be trusted around children, as he was cleared by state and federal law enforcement background checks when he was hired, and all his personal and professional references gave “exemplary” reviews of the employee, Jordan said.
“At the Y, the safety and well-being of all children in our care is our primary objective,” YMCA Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth Jordan said. “We are taking this matter very seriously and are cooperating with the Morgan Hill Police Department’s investigation of the allegation.”
In addition to a background check upon hiring, Lhermine and other YMCA employees are subject to annual and semi-annual reviews while employed with the organization, Jordan said. All of these reviews gave Lhermine a positive evaluation. Plus, YMCA employees undergo ongoing training after they are hired.
The YMCA has “multiple and myriad” policies and rules that are intended to prevent employees from being alone with children, Jordan added. These include a “cross referencing system” in which employees keep tabs on each other’s locations, and strict procedures on bathroom use.
“We are all trained ad nauseum that you’re never allowed alone with a child,” Jordan said.
Jordan and other YMCA officials were preparing to meet with police to discuss the details of the case Wednesday morning.
“We’re going to do our own full investigation into how this could possibly have happened,” Jordan said.
The childcare program where Friday’s incident took place was stationed at Paradise Valley Elementary School, Palsgrove added.
City staff noted that Lhermine was not an employee at the Centennial Recreation Center, where the YMCA partners with the City to run the facility and several programs there.
The childcare program where Lhermine worked was sponsored solely by the YMCA, which used a portable unit on campus for the program. Lhermine’s employment at the YMCA did not include any involvement in any programs the nonprofit offers in partnership with the City or local schools.
“Please be assured that that the safety and well being of your family and especially your children is our highest priority here at the CRC,” read a notice to CRC members from Morgan Hill Community Services Manager Maureen Tobin.
Authorities also noted that Community Solutions offers free services to the victims of sexual assaults, and professionals there encourage victims and parents to make use of those services.
“Statistics indicate that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18,” Community Solutions Sexual Assault Program Manager Erica Elliot said. “The effects of child sexual abuse can be devastating, which is why it is so important for those that are victimized to reach out for services and support. Survivors need to know it is never too late to get help, and parents need to know that it is never too early to start a conversation with their children about good versus bad touches and safe versus unsafe secrets.”
Community Solutions’ crisis line can be reached at (877) 363-7238.
Anyone with information about this incident, or who thinks they or their children may have been victimized by Lhermine can contact Morgan Hill Police Detective Burdick at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.
