Local News in Brief : Laguna Hills : Child Abuse Complaints Lead to Loss of License

The state has revoked a Laguna Hills woman’s day-care license after investigating allegations that children under her care were sexually molested, an attorney for the state Department of Social Services said Friday.

The department investigated complaints that three children were sexually abused while in the care of Betty Henderson, 48, during a period from 1971 to 1983, attorney Leighton Lai said.

The victims of the alleged molestations are now teen-agers or adults. There were no reports that any of the children currently in Henderson’s care were being abused, Lai said.

Henderson could not be reached for comment Friday, but she denied the allegations during a Dec. 15 hearing before an administrative law judge in Orange, Lai said. He said the judge ruled that three of the incidents warranted revocation of the license.

“Because of all the actions collectively, the department felt there was a danger to children who are in care at the facility,” Lai said.

The license was revoked on Feb. 1, and Henderson has 30 days to appeal, Lai said. The district attorney’s office has not filed any criminal charges in the case.

Henderson received a license in March, 1986, to care for up to six children in her home. The alleged incidents occurred during a time she was operating the service without a license.