Nonprofit Case Worker Accused of Sexual Assault of Child in Middlesex County, NJ
A Coordinated Family Care caseworker was recently accused of sexually assaulting a child he was assigned to oversee. The allegations in this matter state that 23-year-old Miguel Garrido, a caseworker for the nonprofit agency, sexually assaulted a child under the age of 16 at the victim’s home. The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Highland Park Police Department are still investigating the allegations, but authorities have already issued formal charges for aggravated sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, and using marijuana with the victim. Because the investigation is active and ongoing, anyone with information is asked to call Detective Pardo of the Highland Park Police Department at (732) 572-3800 ext. 4253 or Detective McCall of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3652.
Due to the relationship between the alleged perpetrator and victim, it is also possible that the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (“DCP&P”) or the Department of Children and Families (“DCF”) could conduct a separate investigation. According to N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21(a), “parent or guardian” means any natural parent, adoptive parent, resource family parent, stepparent, paramour of a parent, or any person who has assumed responsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child or upon whom there is a legal duty for such care. This also includes a teacher, employee, or volunteer, whether compensated or uncompensated, of an institution who is responsible for the child’s welfare and any other staff person of an institution, regardless of whether the person is responsible for the care or supervision of the child. Generally, when employees of child care organizations or schools are accused of child abuse or neglect, the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit (IAIU) of DCF will investigate the matter, in addition to the police and prosecutor’s office.
If you have been accused of child abuse or neglect while acting in the capacity of a teacher, coach, daycare employee, bus driver, or any other capacity, and you are currently being investigated by IAIU, you probably have a lot of questions. First and foremost, it is important to know that your case will be assigned to one of four IAIU offices:
- Northern IAIU at 100 Hamilton Plaza, 9th Floor, Paterson, NJ 07505
- Metro IAIU at 2 Gateway Plaza, 8th floor, Newark, NJ 07102
- Central IAIU 3131 Princeton Pike, Bldg. 6, Suite 112, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
- Southern IAIU 275 North Delsea Drive, U.S. Route 47, Vineland, NJ 08360
Before you meet with an IAIU investigator, you should contact the experienced team of child abuse and neglect defense lawyers at the Tormey Law Firm to learn about your rights and what to do during the investigation. We are available 24/7 and are ready to guide you through your IAIU investigation. Don’t hesitate to contact us today.
