A former New Jersey child protection caseworker has been indicted for his alleged sexual abuse of two children, officials announced Thursday.
Trent Collier, a native of Newark who most recently was living in Savannah, Ga., has been charged with sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact and other offenses based on his alleged conduct involving two minor victims, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a news release.
The 58-year-old was employed for roughly two decades as a caseworker for the state’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency, the child welfare agency within the New Jersey Department of Children and Families.
While his job was to empower and protect at-risk children, Collier betrayed their trust by misusing his position to “exploit those who needed advocacy and protection the most,” Platkin said in a statement.
An investigation found Collier sexually assaulted the first victim while he served as the DCCP caseworker for the victim’s family, according to the attorney general.
“Collier allegedly verbally and physically threatened the victim that they would be removed from their family if they disclosed the abuse,” which allegedly took place while he was at work, with several instances occurring inside a DCPP office.
Collier later “leveraged his position … to facilitate the sexual abuse” of a second victim, including the use of his DCPP vehicle to carry out the assaults. Investigators found Collier offered money to that victim to keep them quiet.
The attorney general did not release the age of either victim.
Collier is being held in custody as he awaits trial. If convicted on all charges, he could be sentenced to up to 50 years in prison.
Earlier this year, Collier pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to one count of possession and one count of transportation of child pornography.
He’s scheduled to be sentenced on those charges Oct. 10. He faces up to 40 years in prison. Each count also carries a fine of at least $250,000.
