BRIDGTON (AP) – A former day-care worker on Wednesday agreed to be extradited to New Hampshire where he faces charges of molesting three children.

Jeffrey Edmunds, 40, of Bridgton, who worked at the Joyful Hearts Children Center in Conway, N.H., between April 2003 and April 2004, faces three counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault involving three children under the age of 13. He was expected to be returned to New Hampshire on Thursday.

Edmunds came to the attention of New Hampshire authorities after Bridgton police arrested him in January on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and invasion of privacy, the Portland Press Herald reported Wednesday.

“We did a search warrant and we confiscated 250 videotapes, and out of those, we developed some evidence that led us to, as it turned out, New Hampshire, and they took the ball from there,” said Bridgton police Officer Bernie King.

Officials in Maine ruled that there was not enough evidence to sustain the felony exploitation charge, and instead arraigned him on misdemeanor charges of possession of sexually explicit material.

Conway-based Christian Fellowship of New England runs the day care center where Edmunds worked. Pastor Sandy Kravette said, “We are just as shocked as everyone else,” and that “our hearts come out to these families.”

Kravette said he has known Edmunds about 13 years, as a parishioner and employee.

“Our church took Jeff through the normal screening process,” he said. “Our insurance company has a very stringent program. He passed all of those tests and had a state qualification to work with children alone.”

He said that his church has come under scrutiny because its screening process, even for volunteers, is so strict.

He said the church has provided New Hampshire with Edmunds’ time cards and other work records.