The state's day care licensing process is limited in the ways it can help protect children in a home day care from minors who live there, state officials said.
That contrasts with processes for licensees and other adults who live in a home used for day care, who go through rigorous background checks.
A youth, whose home at 911 Hickory St. was also a day care, was charged last week as a juvenile with first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
He is charged with sexually assaulting one child and accused of sexually assaulting another, both at the day care.
The two children were 5 years old and 2 years old, police said this week.
The youth is being held at the Ingham County Youth Center.
Lansing police Lt. Noel Garcia said the suspect on Feb. 20 was reported to have "had the children do something inappropriate and rewarded them with candy."
He would not comment further.
The Michigan Department of Human Services closed the day care, which was run by Michelle Roper, on March 6 and notified her that it intends to revoke her license, state records show.
The licensee of a home day care and any adults living in the home go through rigorous background checks, said Don Vita of the Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing.
But the agency's hands are tied when it comes to investigating the backgrounds of juveniles, because that kind of information is kept confidential by law enforcement and the court system, he said.
Officials have not released information about whether the juvenile at the home had a prior record.
Licensees are required to ensure that everyone in a home is "of good moral character," Vita said, citing state requirements.
Roper received her license on Oct. 31, 2007, DHS records show. The license allowed her to provide 24-hour child care, seven days a week, for children up to 17 years old.