Additional charges in abuse at day care

An 18-year-old man accused of sexually abusing children at a North Side day care and raping a 17-year-old girl now is charged with abusing two more children, accordingto court records.

One victim was a 2-yearold girl and the other a 10year-old girl who was abused when she was 8 and 9, according the criminal complaints.

David Tyus of Perry South is accused of raping, fondling and abusing the girls while they were attending Friendships Play House day care, which his mother ran from herhouse on Maple Street.

The initial victim came forward in May, and that girl told authorities she had witnessed at least two other children — the 2-year-old and the 10-year-old — being abused by Mr. Tyus, according to the complaints. Her age was not listed in court records.

The 2-year-old girl’s mother told officers that her toddler had recently begun to “act grown” and would kiss her mother’s neck, chest and ears while asking, “Is this OK?”

In a May interview with officers, Mr. Tyus denied raping the girls but admitted to kissing them, having them sit on his lap and tickling them, according to the complaints.

Mr. Tyus, who is being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bond in the previous cases, now faces 15 additional charges, including rape, unlawful contact with a minor, statutory sexual assault and endangering the welfare of children.

With the new accusations, he is now charged with sexually assaulting or raping four girls. His mother, Victoria Tyus, 55, also faces charges, because police say she knew of the abuse and did nothing to stop it.