Downtown YMCA child rape defendant released from jail; bond was $100,000

A 21-year-old man charged with raping a 4-year-old girl at the Wichita YMCA Kid Zone where he worked was released from jail Tuesday, officials confirmed.

Caleb Gaston, 21, had been held in jail on a $100,000 bond. His preliminary hearing has been set for Feb. 15.

Gaston had worked at the Kid Zones at both the Downtown and East YMCAs.

The Kid Zone is an area within the Y where parents can leave their children while they exercise or take classes. It’s for children 6 weeks to 7 years old.

Records show that Gaston was arrested last week in the 1200 block of South Topeka on suspicion of rape of a victim under the age of 14. Wichita police went to a residence after the report of a possible sexual assault involving a 4-year-old at the YMCA at 402 N. Market, police said.

The rape charge, filed last Thursday, accuses Gaston of assaulting the 4-year-old on Jan. 29.

Gaston’s employment at Plymouth Learning Center, a church preschool at First and Clifton, was “terminated on 10/9/17 due to one complaint of inappropriate touching,” according to a statement Friday by Plymouth Congregational Church.

This story was originally published February 6, 2018 at 3:49 PM with the headline "Downtown YMCA child rape defendant released from jail; bond was $100,000."