San Jose: In-home behavior technician arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting toddler

SAN JOSE — A 23-year-old man who worked with children as an in-home behavior technician has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a toddler, authorities said Tuesday.

It all started when the mother of the child called San Jose police around 1 p.m. on Jan. 28 to report a sexual assault, authorities said.

The toddler’s mother told officers that she saw a man — later identified by authorities as Benjamin Amlicke — sexually assault her child at least once on security footage, according to police.

Amlicke, a San Mateo resident, was providing the family with in-home services as a behavior technician at the time of the alleged assault, police said.

An investigation by the San Jose Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children and Child Exploitation Detail led to Amlicke’s arrest last Thursday in San Mateo, authorities said. He was later booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail.

According to SJPD, Amlicke worked for the Center for Speech Language, Occupational and Behavior Therapy, which is based in Fremont. The center “immediately cooperated” with the investigation, authorities said.

“We are deeply disturbed by the reprehensible actions of this former employee,” said Dillon Webster, director of strategy and revenue growth for the center. “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation. Our thoughts are with those affected, and we recognize the seriousness of the situation. The safety and well-being of those we serve remains our highest priority. We will continue to cooperate with authorities.”

Authorities believe that there may be other victims and ask anyone with further information about this case or similar incidents to email Detective Simonini at 4458@sanjoseca.gov, or Detective Minten at 4269@sanjoseca.gov, or call 408-277-4102.