Numerous Child Sex Victims Linked To Wakefield Day Care Business
John Burbine, 49, is a level 1 sex offender accused of filming himself in various sexual activities with young children.
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A Wakefield husband and wife are facing numerous charges in connection with an illegal day care service that subjected at least 13 children - one of them just days old - to horrific sexual abuse that was recorded on video.
On Thursday, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone announced the indictments of Wakefield residents John Burnbine, 49, and his wife, Marian Burbine, 46. The two were proprietors of the Waterfall Education Center, which reportedly offered home-based services to clients ranging from day care to group care and tutoring and babysitting. The business reportedly had some employees as well, although Leone indicated that no complicity has been found at this point among them.
"In my 14 years in Middlesex County, I have never seen a case this bad," Leone told area media at a Thursday press conference in Woburn. The DA reported that child victims of Burbine live in the following communities: Stoneham, Medford, Newton, Reading, Melrose, Woburn, and Waltham.
Combined, the two defendants were indicted on more than 100 charges. John Burbine is facing 40 counts of aggravated forcible rape of a child, subsequent offense, 17 counts of indecent assault and battery on a child, 12 counts of posing a child in a state of nudity, 11 counts of posing a child in sexual conduct, 13 counts of child pornography, 2 counts of dissemination of material harmful to a minor, and one count of operating an unlicensed day care program.
For her part, Marian Burbine faces 6 counts of reckless endangerment of a child, and two counts of operating an unlicensed day care business.
According to the DA, this case covers abuse allegations occurring from August, 2010 to August 2012. Child victims, both boys and girls, allegedly ranged in age from 8 days old to 3.5 years old.
"Due to the age of the these victims, we are literally speaking for victims with no voices in this case," said Leone.
A complaint against Mr. Burbine received back in July was also deemed not prosecutable at the time, reported Leone - but it also gave authorities the break they needed to keep the investigation of the day care service going. That's because once they knew about the illegal day care service, authorities were able to get a cease and desist order for the business, as well as a search warrant for the defendants' home and business. During this search, Leone reported that a large number of videos and photos allegedly showing the abuse were discovered. Mrs. Burbine was charged on October 1, while Mr. Burbine was arrested September 28, said Leone.
For now, Leone said that Mrs. Burbine is not charged with knowingly allowing the abuse to happen. However, he noted that along with allegedly running the illegal daycare service, she would have been aware of past abuse allegations made against her husband, as well as his record as a sex offender. Leone suggested that in those matters, the very young age of the alleged victims may have made prosecution not feasible.
Many of these assaults also allegedly took place at the homes of the victims - apparently this business was set up more like a babysitting service where they would go to clients' homes. The two have a residence on Second Street in Wakefield and their business address was on Lincoln Street. The two reportedly do not have children of their own.
Leone also noted that in 1989, Mr. Burbine was convicted of indecent assault and battery, but that under state law, was classified as a Level 1 Sex Offender - which is the kind deemed least likely to repeat.
"It is our firm intention that he will be convicted for these crimes and he will never get out of jail," said Leone, noting that some of the victims are "irreparably damaged."
Mrs. Burbine is due back in court Dec. 20 while a court date for Mr. Burbine is not yet established.
And while authorities so far are investigating abuse against 13 children, Leone noted that "scores" of children had been in the care of the Burbines at some point. With that in mind, those who still have allegations to report involving this matter are encouraged to come forward, added the District Attorney.
amanda
3:34 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
And this is why Im a stay at home mother i can only imagine what these parents and children are going threw
Ashley Malone
3:58 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
This is disgusting.
Michelle Brown
4:10 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
This guy was a creep his whole life!!! Grew up in his neighborhood...rot in hell M.F
chandra
4:50 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
both of them are disgusting no wonder why she did not have a licence because if she did they would have a backround check every 3 yrs and that is madatory and for a home day care they need to have posted where parents can see it a up to date licence and the parents should have been more careful but its not there fault I am sick to my stomach and how did this get this far but the wife is so stupid and i hope they get what coming to them in jail I belive and eye for an eye they will not make it in jail I hope those kids that were there get the help they need to get through this rough time I hope they Burn in HELL and there soul as well
Melissa Gleaton
5:05 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
This is why there are licenses and qualifications for LEGAL childcare businesses. It may cost more, but it's worth the piece of mind.
Michael Adams
6:06 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Off with their heads! And soon, these sick scumbags should be put down like rabid animals. When the Justice system lets scumbags like these two roam free and hand out anything less than death as a sentence, then these crimes will continue! Sexual predators need to be exterminated! Not given a bracelet, or a stay away orders, NO SECOND CHANCES!!!!!
KellyP
6:07 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
The page on this website shows that it is licensed.
http://wakefield.patch.com/listings/waterfall-education-center
Also somehow has bbb rating of A- with one positive review.
After hearing this news, I googled 'waterfall education center' there were no results of abuse just ads for it. Makes me sick to my stomach. Having two young kids in daycare it is a parents biggest nightmare.
T Nelson
8:07 am on Saturday, December 8, 2012
This page says the PEOPLE are licensed or certified NOT the business. If the business were certified there would be more in depth background checks of the people. As they sent people out to homes I'm not sure how in MA that would be licensed child care (I work in NH). I am shocked that he is not listed on the sex offender registry! That's a HUGE hole in the system. His conviction was when he was 18 or 19, it's likely he has a juvenile record as well that no one would have seen.
roxiedmc
6:29 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
You have to be careful of those reviews. There is one review..she probably wrote it. In this case, I call for cruel and unusual punishment. this guy has been molesting kids no doubt for over 30 years. He was caught in 1989. Once a sex offender, always a sex offender. There is no help for these people. Lock them up and throw away the key. So many in jail for so much less.
Stella Horgan
7:02 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
It's very concerning that this sub-human has been free to victimize since 1989. How many cases will never be known. I do not undersatnd..the very young age of the alleged victims may have made prosecution impractical. Impractical? Was there sufficient evidence or was the cost of a trial taken into consideration? Laws need to be changed ...conviction of any sexual assault should result in a lifetime sentence. Society is sick of the rehab crap. It has been proven many times over these offenders can not be trusted ever. May God bless all who have been harmed by this evil.
DCasa
9:24 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
You can't tell me that nobody in the Wakefield School system was unaware of this so called learning center. When children start in the public school system (kindergarden) the school is usually made aware of prior educational programs that the child was involved in. That being said how the F*CK did they not know that the business wasn't licensed? My wife and I met the Burbines at the summer festival in downtown Wakefield in 2011. They had a tent set up and seemed like a legitimate business...we even invited them to our home to interview them!!! Thank god we didn't decide to employ them. But that brings up another issue...The town organizes a festival to promote local businesses...why didn't the town confirm that they had a license??? How many new clients and future victims did the town help these monsters betray???
Bosgem
10:00 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
Nepotism!!! People are not seeing the underlying problem, of this guys Father was on the Wakefield Police Dept. and they protect each others Families. I have seen this in this town many of times. From school to sports to DPW, and Town Hall. And the Townies always get the beneficial treatment, as did he. How does someone Rent a space for Daycare and does not have ANYBODY in Town question the validity of their services from the Bldg. owner, to Town Hall to the Police????
Gayle Otis of Beverly
10:20 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
Oh, go pick on people from other communities! Wakefield citizens can do no wrong!
DCasa
10:29 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
WOW!!! I hope Officer Jarvis "Buddy" Burbine is happy. Along with all the other people that willingly kept this information under the rug.
janice taylor
10:12 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012
i am in schock i last saw john and maryanne at my dads funeral they lived across the st. from them on second street all i can say is he was never around my kids or g. children! he is discusting and should be procecuted to the max! and shame on her for covering it up! thank god they never had kids! but there were kids that lived in that neighborhood!!
Joe M
10:56 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
The more I read about this the sicker I feel. This might sound naïve, but who would be the local politicians this concerned citizen should contact to voice my feelings about this issue?
DCasa
10:58 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
Here's the list...start calling. I know I am.
http://www.wakefield.ma.us/public_Documents/WakefieldMA_BComm/selectmen
ge2727
4:29 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012
How is he being protected? The animal was just indicted on over 100 counts and will never see the light of day again thank God.
Deborah Belanger
11:34 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012
They should be tortured! Thank god massachusetts follows through with committing people for life under the label of being'a sexually dangerous person.'. She should be punished as equally responsible.
KarenW.
6:15 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Wow, I am totally unaware of Massachusetts committing any sexually dangerous people for life LOL... This state lets cop killers out on furlough (that had a life sentence)so they can do it again!!!