Abhishek Sareen Charged in Lotus Learners Montessori Abuse Case in Rancho Peñasquitos

A Tech Company’s Tip Led Police to Abhishek Sareen, Who Lived Inside His Mother’s Rancho Peñasquitos Home Daycare

RANCHO PEÑASQUITOS, CALIFORNIA (31 de Octubre, 2026) – A 35-year-old man identified as Abhishek Sareen has been charged with sexually abusing young children at Lotus Learners Montessori School, an in-home daycare in Rancho Peñasquitos.

San Diego County officials are saying that Sareen was arrested on the night of Monday, October 19. Prosecutors allege the abuse began in 2024 at the daycare, which operates out of his mother’s home in the 14100 block of Korrey Drive and serves children ages 2 to 5.

The case began when Google reported child sexual abuse material to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, as federal law requires. That tip reached San Diego police, who arrested Sareen the same night, and no children were present.

Prosecutors say Sareen abused at least three young girls at the daycare, two of whom are 4 and 6 years old, while investigators are still working to identify the third. On Thursday, October 22, Sareen pleaded not guilty to 19 felony charges related to child sexual abuse and possession of child sexual abuse material, and he was ordered held without bail.

If convicted, Sareen faces more than 330 years to life in prison, and he is due back in court on January 4. His attorney said Sareen did not work at the daycare and only lived there.

The daycare has voluntarily closed for 30 days, and state licensing officials have been notified. Anyone with information is asked to call the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at 858-495-4779 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

State records raise questions about who lived in Lotus Learners homes during care hours. The Rancho Peñasquitos daycare was licensed in 2011 and was cited in a January 2026 inspection for missing immunization records, according to NBC7 San Diego. A July 2025 inspection of a related Lotus Learners location in Carmel Mountain Ranch, licensed to Sareen’s brother, found two adult residents who had not been fingerprint-cleared or background-checked. California’s Sección 1596.871 del Código de Salud y Seguridad requires any adult living in a licensed child care home to obtain a criminal record clearance or exemption before their initial presence in the facility. It remains unclear whether Sareen had such a clearance, and state investigators are now examining all three Lotus Learners locations.

Liability for Rancho Peñasquitos Daycare Abuse

Licensed child care providers owe a heightened duty to children who cannot protect themselves. California requires background clearances for caregivers and for other adults present in a child care facility, including household members. Under Código de Procedimiento Civil, artículo 340.1, there is no time limit to file a civil claim for childhood sexual assault that occurred on or after January 1, 2024. That rule covers both the abuser and anyone whose negligence was a legal cause of the abuse. Daycare abuse claims often examine several areas of responsibility:

• Background clearances: Every adult who works in or lives at a licensed daycare must be cleared before having contact with children.
• Supervisión: Providers are responsible for supervising children at all times and controlling who has access to them.
• Miembros del hogar: Home-based programs must account for relatives, tenants, and visitors present during care hours.
• Mandated reporting: Child care workers must report suspected abuse to authorities.
• Cumplimiento de las licencias: Past citations can show whether a provider ignored known risks.

California courts hold those who supervise children responsible when they fail to protect them. In CA contra Distrito Escolar Unificado William S. Hart (2012), the California Supreme Court considered claims by a student who alleged that his school’s head guidance counselor had sexually abused him. The student alleged that administrators knew or should have known of the counselor’s dangerous propensities but failed to act. The court held that the district could be liable for negligently hiring, retaining, or supervising an abusive employee, because those in charge owe children a duty arising from their special relationship. The principle extends to any institution responsible for children.

Recognizing Warning Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual exploitation is reported on a massive scale every year. In 2025, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline received 21.3 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation, with child sexual abuse material making up the largest category. Online platforms must report such material, and those reports can lead investigators to children who need help. Very young children depend on adults to notice when something is wrong. Parents can take these steps:

• Cambios de comportamiento: Sudden fear of a person or place, new sleep problems, or regression such as bedwetting can signal distress.
• Conocimientos inusuales: Young children who use sexual language or show knowledge beyond their age may have been exposed to abuse.
• Who is present: Parents can ask daycare providers to identify every adult who lives in or visits the home during care hours.
• Licensing records: California publishes inspection reports for licensed child care facilities, which parents can review before enrolling.
• Reporting concerns: Suspected abuse can be reported to local police or child protective services at any time.

Home-based daycares blend family life with child care in ways that require extra vigilance. Every adult in the home should be known to parents and properly cleared by the state. Licensing agencies, providers, and families all share a role in keeping dangerous people away from children. Children who are abused and their families have the right to seek accountability from everyone whose failures allowed the abuse to happen. They may also be entitled to compensation for therapy, medical care, and lasting harm.

Investigating Daycare Sexual Abuse in Rancho Peñasquitos

Nosotros, en Ley Feher offer our support and best wishes for healing to the children and families affected at Lotus Learners Montessori School. We hope this case brings accountability and leads to stronger oversight of who has access to children in home-based daycares. These allegations raise serious safety concerns about the screening of adults who live in licensed child care homes. Who was responsible for knowing which adults lived inside the Lotus Learners home while young children were in care?

Have you or a loved one been affected by abuse at a daycare or preschool in Rancho Peñasquitos or elsewhere in San Diego County? Families can hold abusers and the businesses that failed to protect children legally responsible, and children who were harmed may be entitled to compensation for counseling and care. Licensing files, enrollment records, and household information are held by providers and state agencies, not families. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened, from state inspection reports and background clearance records to enrollment logs and the accounts of other families. If you need answers to legal questions or support of any kind, we’re here for you anytime at (424) 433-4412.