By Philip Newman
A Queens daycare operator, who allegedly endangered a 4-year-old boy in his care by losing him in Juniper Valley Park and failing to notify police or the child’s parent, has been charged with child endangerment and other charges, the Queens District Attorney said. The child was later found by a park police officer wandering the park.
DA Richard Brown identified the defendant as Oscar Jaramillo, 32, of 85th Street in Woodhaven, who operates a daycare center with this wife at their residence.
Jaramillo was arraigned Aug. 30 before Queens Criminal Court Judge Danielle Hartman on a criminal complaint charging him with abandonment of a child and endangering the welfare of a child.
Hartman ordered Jaramillo held on $10,000/$5,000 bail. He also issued a full order of protection for the child.
Jaramillo, who faces up to four years in prison if convicted, was ordered to return to court on Sept. 29.
Police Officer Rico Albacarys observed 4-year old Emiliano Marquez walking inside Juniper Valley about 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 29, the criminal complaint said.
After asking several parkgoers if they were looking for a lost child, Officer Albacarys called 911.
According to police, four hours later after the child had been taken to the 104th Precinct, Jaramillo appeared and said, “I was walking in the park with my daughter and Emiliano Marquez and I lost him.”
Brown said he later further admitted that “I looked around the park for a little while and left without notifying the police or Emilio’s parents that I lost him.”
“As a daycare operator, the defendant was entrusted with protecting the children that parents left in his care and ensuring that they were safe from physical and psychological harm,” the DA said. “According to the criminal charges, the defendant failed to do the job he was paid to perform, and in the process, endangered the life of an innocent 4-year-old who was left alone to wander the park. Luckily, the child was not harmed.”
