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Mother sues North Texas daycare after former employee arrested on child indecency charge

Efrain Jesus Bonilla, 19, is out on bond facing one count of indecency with child-sexual contact.

SACHSE, Texas — A former employee at a daycare in Sachse has been indicted on one charge of indecency with a child, and the child's family is suing the daycare, saying surveillance video captured the alleged sexual abuse.

The indictment comes after the mother of a 4-year-old boy went to Sachse Police about what her son told her on Jan. 6, 2023. Nineteen-year-old Efrain Jesus Bonilla was arrested in the case and is out on bond, facing one count of indecency with child-sexual contact in a case that is still pending.

The boy's mother is now suing By the Barnyard Gate daycare after surveillance video allegedly captured her son being sexually abused.

The lawsuit was filed this month, on June 10, and is seeking $1 million for pain and suffering.

Russell Button from the Button Law Firm in Dallas is representing the family. 

"This caregiver comes over, blocks the camera view from looking at what's going on with his hands, warms up his hands, positions the child, sticks his hand down the into his private areas and grabs his privates," Button said.

WFAA obtained court records showing his bond set at $25,000 in the 282nd Judicial District Court. Bonilla's bond release conditions include submitting a random urinalysis, no weapons, no direct or indirect contact with the victim, not using illicit drugs, and not making any direct or indirect threats to the victim, his family, or pets. 

The mother, who WFAA is not naming to protect the boy's identity, says she and daycare workers watched the video at the center of this investigation.

"They never reported it to the state," said Button, "The mom had to self-report to the state and had to call the police." 

According to Texas Health and Human Services, the state did cite the daycare for not reporting the incident. Online records show that on Jan. 10, 2023, DFPS completed an investigation and determined that a child was abused while in care at By the Barnyard Gate.

WFAA reached out to Bonilla, but he did not answer our repeated calls. The owner of By the Barnyard Gate declined to comment due to the ongoing litigation and criminal case. 

The attorney for his alleged victim warns all daycare parents to do their homework. 

"So that way where there's a bad daycare and if they are bad and dangerous caregivers, they get held accountable," said Button.

Parents can check Texas daycare providers for violations online here

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