HUDSON, Wis. — A former police officer turned businessman accused of sexually assaulting a boy is facing additional charges involving seven more children in northwestern Wisconsin.

Authorities say 46-year-old Daniel Barber preyed on children in his care, sometimes using Craigslist and Facebook to connect with parents in need of baby sitters. St. Croix County Sheriff John Shilts says Barber appeared to be “a knight in shining armor,” sometimes stepping in to care for children of single parents experiencing financial difficulties.

The North Hudson man was charged in February with sexually assaulting a 6-year-old boy and possessing child pornography.

The new charges filed this week date back to 2004 and allege the abuse of seven more boys, including two toddlers.

Barber’s attorney, Mark Gherty, declined to comment on the additional charges.