October 16, 2025 – Live Oak, CA – Sutter County Sheriff's Office officials report that they have arrested a Live Oak resident following a report of sexual abuse involving a child at a licensed day care facility.

On October 13, 2025, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of suspected child sexual abuse at Kruse Oralia Family Child Care Home - doing business as - Kruse's Playhouse Daycare, a state-licensed facility located in Live Oak. Detectives from the Sutter County Sheriff’s Investigations Unit immediately launched an investigation and conducted forensic interviews (MDIs).

During the investigation, detectives received reports alleging that 63-year-old Steven Kruse, an employee of the day care, sexually abused multiple children while they were in his care. After additional investigation, Kruse was arrested and booked on multiple felony charges, including oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child under 10, lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and dissuading a witness from reporting a crime.

The Sheriff’s Office has notified the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, which has opened an administrative investigation into the facility.

The Sutter County District Attorney's Office has also been notified.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information related to this case or other potential victims is urged to contact Detective Rhiley Harrison or Sergeant Ernesto Chavez at the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office by calling (530) 822-7307.

Source: Sutter County Sheriff's Office