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Daycare center shuttered amid sex abuse inquiry By Myles Murphy Ashland Daily Tidings An Ashland daycare center has been shut down after allegations of sexual abuse and sodomy surfaced against the son of the operators. Gregory William Harvey, 15, of Ashland, was released on $50,000 bail Wednesday after spending the weekend in Jackson County Juvenile detention. Harvey is charged with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and a charge of first-degree sodomy. "Allegations have only been made," Harvey's mother Ruth Bondinell said this morning in a phone interview from the Grizzly Drive daycare center. "We don't even know what the situation is." Bondinell confirmed her son had been taken to juvenile hall on Friday for "inappropriately touching a girl," and was released on bail Wednesday. The family has been running a daycare in Ashland without incidence for more than 11 years, according to Bondinell. The small business was visited by the state Children's Services Division following Harvey's arrest, and has, at least for now, closed down the daycare business. Bondinell said she called all of her customers about the allegations. Some have asked her to continue caring for their children, Bondinell confirmed. "We have three small children here now," she said. Despite being closed as a day care, private families can care for up to three children, Bondinell said. There has been no indication yet from officials where the alleged crimes may have occurred. Depending on the outcome of the case, the future is uncertain for both the family and the business, according to Bondinell. "If he is found guilty we will just probably leave the area," she said. The Jackson County District Attorney handling the case was unavailable for comment this morning. While juveniles are rarely identified by law enforcement officials, Harvey's name was released because he has been charged as an adult under Measure 11. "Measure 11 automatically kicks in when certain crimes are alleged," Jackson County Juvenile Department duty officer John Harkins said. "But since he was 15, he couldn't be lodged in the Jackson County Jail." Ashland police officials said today they would not comment on the case because it is an on-going investigation. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -