NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The 44-year-old owner of an illegal daycare has been indicted by a grand jury following an investigation by the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) after the operator of the daycare was accused of sexually abusing children for years.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), Molly Sinclair was taken into custody Friday morning after being indicted on three charges of operating a childcare agency without a license (felony) and one charge of reckless endangerment.

The indictment stems from an investigation by DCS, which WSMV4 has contacted for more information.

Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) records showed that Malik’s wife, Sinclair, had been notified 10 times in nearly a decade to shut down. DHS records show she was operating illegally by watching 22 children at a time out of her home. Anyone providing care to five or more unrelated children must be licensed through the state of Tennessee, according to the DHS website.

A petition filed by DHS said Sinclair had been operating an unlicensed daycare out of her home on Ash Grove Drive as far back as 2015.

Malik was arrested by the MNPD on 26 charges ranging from child rape to child abuse.

A court document obtained by WSMV4 indicates Sinclair signed a plea deal agreeing to stop watching children in her home or any home with her name on the lease on Nov. 5. Instead of shutting down the daycare, Sinclair started funneling children into Malik’s sister’s home next door, according to DHS records.

On Dec. 11, WSMV4′s Sharon Danquah several mothers called for Sinclair’s arrest. She’s now being held on a $300,000 bond.