Authorities released a photo of the suspect, 30-year-old Devante Brown, who was arrested by the Brooklyn Child Abuse Squad on Tuesday, just after 10 a.m.
Officials say Brown worked as a teacher at a Bushwick childcare center. He's accused of repeatedly sexually abusing four young girls when they were between the ages of 5 and 9 years old from April 2024 to August 2025.
"The conduct alleged in this case shocks the conscious. Innocent children were entrusted to a teacher's care to safely learn and grow, but instead this defendant allegedly shuttered that trust in the worst way," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "We can never tolerate the disturbing exploitation and abuse of children alleged in this case and will continue to aggressively prosecute this and any other case in which someone abuses their position of authority to harm a child."
He has been charged with second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, seven counts of first-degree sexual abuse, seven counts of second-degree sexual abuse, seven counts of forcible touching and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Police said Brown intimidated at least one of the children into silence by threatening her that their favorite teacher would be fired if they told an adult.
One of the mothers of the victims is now speaking out after the arrest.
"I trusted my gut, and as soon as I felt that, I pulled her immediately," the parent said.
Authorities said in July 2025, Brown allegedly sexually assaulted one of the children while at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
The incidents are coming to light after children told their parents.
"There was signs prior to, so I was in communication with them. Trust your gut and your intuition as a mother," the parent said.
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said in a statement, "All New York City parents deserve to know their children are safe when they send their kids to day care. The allegations here are disturbing and will not be tolerated by the NYC Health Department or any of the regulatory agencies for childcare centers in the city. The NYC Health Department closed the infant/toddler and preschool childcare programs in May and July of last year, and those programs remain closed to this day."
Brown was ordered held on $150,000 cash bail, $300,000 insurance bond or $500,000 partially-secured bond.
Police say the sex-related offenses involved multiple victims, which occurred in Bushwick from April 2024 through August 2025.
The NYPD is asking any other victims to please come forward by calling the NYPD's Sex Crimes Hotline at 1-212-267-RAPE (7273), the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.
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