Daycare Operator Accused of Sexually Assaulting Child Heads to Prelim

INDIO - A man who ran a daycare business with his wife in Palm Springs is scheduled to face a preliminary hearing today on charges that he sexually abused a girl under 14 years old.

Jose Mercado, 38, of Palm Springs, is accused of three felony counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one felony count of lewd acts with a child under 14. The defendant is accused of sexually assaulting the girl between December 2003 and December 2004.

The man and his wife ran a daycare center in their unit at the Tahquitz Court Apartments at 2890 Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs police Officer Rhonda L...