A police investigation of a Bar Nunn man now facing 35 molestation charges revealed allegations of repeated sexual abuse and children being made to perform sex acts on one another, court documents reveal.

Eight children described being sexually abused by Warren Jay Crawford during incidents that began after his 2004 release from the Casper Re-entry Center and continued until two months before his arrest last month. The allegations came to light after one of the children told authorities in Colorado she was molested by Crawford.

Prosecutors filed charges against the 39-year-old trucker in September, but details about the investigation weren't available until this week, when the case was transferred to Natrona County District Court.

The charges against Crawford involve allegations that date as far back as October 2004, when he was released after serving time for molesting an elementary school-aged Casper boy. Crawford was not released from parole until January 2007, according to the Wyoming Department of Corrections.

The children -- seven girls and one boy who now range in age from 8 to 17 -- described a variety of abuse they claimed sometimes took place with only Crawford, and other times, with other kids. Investigators suspect the acts occurred at several homes in Bar Nunn, Casper and unincorporated Natrona County, as well as in Crawford's pickup and semi truck.

In interviews with detectives, Crawford admitted to molesting children involved in the case, according to an affidavit signed by the lead investigator in the case.

"Crawford stated he was really sorry for what happened and stated he knew he was going to prison and was probably not going to get out," Detective Tim Doll wrote. "He stated he wanted to get everything out so he didn't have to have the kids ever go to court."

In addition to the child molestation charges, Crawford is also accused of failing to register as a sex offender.

On Sept. 11, police went to Crawford's last registered address in Bar Nunn, but were told he'd left months earlier. A detective eventually tracked him to Hot Springs, Ark., where Crawford was working for a frozen meat company.

Police say Crawford failed to notify authorities in Natrona County and Arkansas about the move.

When contacted by police, Crawford agreed to return to Casper, where he was arrested. Because Crawford has two past convictions for sex crimes, he faces the possibility of multiple life sentences if convicted.

Crawford remains jailed at Natrona County Detention Center in lieu of $500,000 bond. He is expected to appear in district court within several weeks to answer to the charges.

Reach crime reporter Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com. Visit tribtown.trib.com/JoshuaWolfson/blog to read his blog.