By Sharon Coolidge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A paroled sex offender is accused of molesting three children at an in-home day-care in Harrison, authorities said.

Charles E. Hubbard went to the home in the 200 block of North Hill Street on March 18 to visit a relative who lived there, police said.

Hubbard preyed on children being cared for there, Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen charged.

A Hamilton County grand jury indicted Hubbard, 27, of Price Hill, Monday on two charges of rape and six charges of gross sexual imposition.

He is accused of sexually molesting three girls, all ages 4 and 5, as another child watched, Mathews said.

One of the victims told her mother, who notified authorities.

Hubbard was released from prison last year after serving six years for molesting an 8-year-old girl in Hamilton, records show. A Butler County Common Pleas Court judge designated Hubbard a sexual predator, meaning he has to register his address with the county sheriff every 90 days for the rest of his life. Hubbard has complied with that order, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

Hubbard remains on parole until March 2008.

"Paroled sex offenders need to be kept on a short tether, period," Allen said. "Certainly, they should not be allowed near a day-care center, let alone actually inside one."

The day-care provider, Irene Saylor, also known as Irene Thompson, says she knew Hubbard was released from prison last year, but thought he served time for theft. Hubbard is the half-brother of her grandson, Saylor said.

"If I knew, I never would have allowed him in my house," said Saylor, 60.

Harrison Police Lt. Steve Mathews said Saylor cares for 10 children between the ages of 9 months and 6 years old.

In Ohio, any child-care provider caring for seven to 12 children in their home must be licensed by the state, said Elaine Ward, associate executive director of 4C, a child-care resource and referral agency.

Saylor does not have a license, said Dennis Evans, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

"We will look into it," Evans said.

Usually in such cases, the day-care provider is asked either to get a license or shut down. The state can ask the courts to close the business, Evans said.

Harrison officers worked with the adult parole authority, which put out a warrant for Hubbard. He was not allowed to be around children unsupervised.

Hubbard was arrested March 23 and remains in the Hamilton County Jail.

Saylor said the day-care center remains open and she has told the parents of the children she cares for what happened.

She has not been charged with a crime.

Allen said charging Saylor would be difficult because prosecutors would have to prove she knew Hubbard posed a danger to the children.

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E-mail scoolidge@enquirer.com