A Boys & Girls Club employee in Plymouth, Massachusetts, has been charged with multiple offenses, including indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, after allegedly taking inappropriate photos of a child at a summer camp. Bradley Collins, 20, is accused of photographing sexual or intimate parts of a child and posing a child in a nude, lascivious exhibition, as reported by NBC10 Boston. Collins pleaded not guilty to these charges and was released on a $15,000 cash bail.
The incident was first discovered on August 12 when Plymouth police received reports that Collins had taken inappropriate photographs and warned the child not to tell anyone, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney's office. The alleged crimes occurred at the local Boys & Girls Club, where Collins was employed. After picking up her frightened son, which indicated something was amiss, the mother of the seven-year-old victim learned of the incident as her son confided the details to her and later to the police, reported by the Plymouth Independent. The report added that Collins had his story changed several times, initially denying the photos' existence but later admitting he might have taken them.
During an interview with a special sex abuse expert from the DA's office, the child revealed that the abuse extended beyond photography, saying the adult had touched his private areas multiple times. Collins, whose Facebook page highlights his work and artwork at the Boys & Girls Club, praised the organization as a positive influence in his life. "You guys have been nothing but awesome. I look forward to what the future brings us," Collins expressed optimistically in a February post, as mentioned by the Plymouth Independent.
The Boys & Girls Club of Plymouth has since taken swift action, placing Collins on leave without pay. Executive director Garreth J. Lynch stated, "All appropriate authorities were informed immediately after we received the complaint and we are cooperating fully," in an email obtained by the Plymouth Independent. The club's policies, including the requirement that an employee and a student should not be alone together, were apparently disregarded in these incidents, which sometimes occurred with other children present but preoccupied. Both publications have requested comments from the Plymouth Boys & Girls Club, which highlighted its rigorous annual background checks for employees and volunteers in defense of its hiring practices.
Collins is expected to appear in court on October 2 for a probable cause hearing.
