Sutter detectives arrest day care employee accused of sexually abusing children
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- Sutter County sheriff’s detectives arrested Steven Kruse on child sex abuse charges.
- Sheriff’s officials said Kruse is accused of abusing children at a Live Oak day care.
- Kruse worked as an employee at California-licensed Kruse’s Playhouse Daycare.
Detectives on Tuesday night arrested an employee accused of sexually abusing children at a licensed Sutter County day care now under investigation by California regulators.
Steven Eric Kruse, 63, of Live Oak, was arrested on suspicion of oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child younger than 10 years old, committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child younger than 14 and dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, according to a news release from the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office.
Kruse was booked at the Sutter County Jail. Sheriff’s officials said Kruse remained in custody Wednesday afternoon, his bail amount was set at $500,000 and his arraignment hearing was scheduled for Friday afternoon in Sutter Superior Court.
Sheriff’s officials said Kruse is an employee at Kruse Oralia Family Child Care Home, which is doing business as Kruse’s Playhouse Daycare as a state-licensed facility in the town of Live Oak about 50 miles north of Sacramento.
On Monday, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of suspected child sexual abuse at Kruse’s Playhouse Daycare. Sheriff’s officials said detectives launched an investigation and conducted forensic interviews, which are also known as multi-disciplinary interviews in which children speak to a trauma specialist about child abuse allegations.
Detectives then learned of allegations that Kruse sexually abused multiple children while they were in his care, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office notified the California Department of Social Services. Sheriff’s officials said the state department’s Community Care Licensing Division has opened an administrative investigation into the Live Oak day care.
The Sutter County District Attorney’s Office also has been notified about the day care employee’s arrest, sheriff’s officials said, and this investigation is ongoing.
In response to the sheriff’s investigation, the city of Live Oak revoked the business license for Kruse’s Playhouse Daycare business.
The Sheriff’s Office asked anyone with additional information relevant to this child sexual abuse case or other potential victims to call Detective Rhiley Harrison or Sgt. Ernesto Chavez at 530-822-7307.
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 12:53 PM.
