Former day-care operator pleads guilty to molesting 3-year-old girl

EVANSVILLE – A former operator of a day care in the city has pleaded guilty to molesting a 3-year-old girl at the center.\nThomas Bulich, 66, operated the Sunshine Daycare with his wife. It has since been shut down.\nBulich told a detective that he did have a problem that he has not been able to control and that he molested the girl a few times, most recently on Aug. 10 in the day-care living room, according to the probable cause affidavit.\nBulich originally faced more serious felony charges of child molesting and attempted child molesting, but they would be dismissed under the agreement filed Thursday in Vanderburgh Circuit Court.\nUnder the agreement, Bulich would be sentenced to seven years in prison. His sentencing was scheduled for May 15. Before that, he will be evaluated by psychologists to determine if he is a sexual predator.\nIn September, prosecutors told the court three more people reported they were abused by Bulich more than 30 years ago, but the statute of limitations on their cases had run out, so no charges could be filed.\nThroughout the case, Bulich’s attorney, Sonny Reisz, asked that Bulich’s bond be lowered because he suffers from medical conditions including prostate cancer and increased blood pressure. Reisz has said those ailments make it unlikely Bulich could still be a danger to children.