Babysitter accused of sexually assaulting 13 children pleads not guilty

WOBURN (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - A Wakefield babysitter who investigators say raped and sexually abused 13 children pleaded not guilty to 100 charges in Middlesex Superior Court Wednesday morning.

John Burbine, 49, is facing 40 counts of aggravated rape of a child by force, 18 counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years old, 13 counts of posing a child in a state of nudity, 14 counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of dissemination of child pornography.

The aggravated rape of a child by force charges each carried a subsequent charge. Burbine also faces one charge of operating a daycare without a license.

Burbine was held without bail for 90 days, and after the 90 days, his bail will be set at $1 million.

Prosecutors called the case one of the "most troubling and disturbing cases of child abuse ever prosecuted in Middlesex County."

The children Burbine is accused of sexually abusing ranged in age from eight days to 3-years-old and lived in the Boston suburbs of Stoneham, Medford, Newton, Reading, Melrose, Woburn, and Waltham; however, there may be more victims that investigators haven't identified.

According to prosecutors, the abuse occurred between August 2010 and August 2012 in the victims' homes and communities.

Burbine and his 46-year-old wife, Marian, advertised child care and tutoring services on various websites, including parenting websites and coupon service websites.   Together they reportedly transported children to another family's home for day care and ran a summer activities program in which they took children to various places. 

It is alleged that Burbine sexually abused many of the boys and girls, who were in his care, multiple times over several months or years.

Investigators also said that Burbine videotaped some of the acts.

Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone said Burbine has been in custody since September on charges involving one victim that grew out of an abuse complaint from July.

Burbine is scheduled to appear in court on January 15, 2012 at 9 a.m. for a pre-trail conference.

Anyone with information that could be helpful to the investigation can contact the Middlesex District Attorney's Office Child Abuse Unit at 781-897-8400.

Cox Media Group