Syracuse police have arrested a registered sex offender accused of sexually abusing three children he was baby-sitting.

Police were called Monday by a woman who said her daughter and several other children were possible sex abuse victims, Syracuse Police Lt. Tracy Jensen said Wednesday.

"It was inappropriate touching," Jensen said. "As far as this abuse, it's been going on, as far as we can tell, a couple of months."

Investigators focused on Richard Siler, 44, who was placed on the Utah Department of Corrections' sex offender registry for attempted sex abuse of a child following a 1999 conviction. He is no longer on probation or parole, but he remains on the registry.

"He's done his time, and he's just a registered offender," Jensen said.

Police said Siler and his wife did not run a licensed day care, but rather baby-sat the children of friends and acquaintances. Police said they have identified three children and an adult woman who were sexually abused.

"The female was being groped," Jensen said of the woman. "She did say something to him; she defied him and chastised him."

Siler was booked into the Davis County Jail on Wednesday on investigation of 12 counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child and three counts of forcible sex abuse. He was being held without bail. Police are asking prosecutors to charge with an enhancement because they claim Siler was in a position of trust over the alleged victims.

Syracuse police also put out a public plea for any other possible victims to contact them at 801-825-4400.

"We're kind of wondering if there's more," Jensen said. "We would like, if any one has any information, for them to come forward."

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