More Charges Expected In Avon Daycare Child Sex Assault Probe: Police

AVON, CT — Additional charges are expected against a former BrightPath Avon employee accused of sexually assaulting children in his care at the now-closed daycare facility, Avon police confirmed Thursday.

Avon Police Department spokesman John F. Schmalberger said two additional arrest warrants involving Jan Carlos Berrios-Otero, 29, of Avon, are under review at Torrington Superior Court.

“There are two additional arrest warrants at GA18; they are being reviewed by a Judge and potentially signed at a later date,” Schmalberger said in a statement Thursday afternoon. “Each warrant has one count of Illegal sexual contact with a minor and sexual assault, fourth-degree.”

Berrios-Otero is a former employee of BrightPath Avon Early Learning and Child Care Center at 144 Simsbury Road.

Police said officers responded to the facility March 31 after administrators reported suspected inappropriate contact involving a child and an employee.

Berrios-Otero was arrested April 1. Authorities later expanded the investigation and have already filed additional charges tied to six alleged incidents involving five children, according to police.

Court records show Berrios-Otero faces multiple counts, including fourth-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor and aggravated sexual assault of a minor. Officials said several alleged victims were younger than 13.

He remains held on a combined $4 million bond and is scheduled to appear June 23 in Litchfield Superior Court.

Attorneys Sarah Klein and Eric W. Schoenberg, who represent families in connection with several civil lawsuits tied to the case, said Thursday that the additional warrants show the investigation is continuing to grow.

“These additional warrants make clear that this investigation is continuing to expand and that more children were allegedly harmed than initially known,” Klein and Schoenberg said in a statement. “Each new victim identified represents a profound failure of protection by the adults and institutions entrusted with these children’s safety.”

The attorneys said they believe there may be even more additional victims who have not yet come forward and said more civil cases are expected to be filed.

“BrightPath had an obligation to protect the children placed in its care,” Klein and Schoenberg said.

Multiple lawsuits filed in Hartford Superior Court accuse BrightPath operators Educational Play Care Ltd. and Busy Bees US Holdings Limited of negligence related to Berrios-Otero.

The lawsuits, filed on behalf of several children, allege the operators failed to properly supervise children and employees and failed to respond to warning signs and complaints involving Berrios-Otero.

The complaints also allege staff members who reported inappropriate conduct faced retaliation.

BrightPath and its operators have been accused in civil complaints of negligence.

The allegations in those lawsuits remain pending in court.

From May 22: 'As Avon Daycare Closes, Attorneys For Alleged Sex Abuse Victims Say Questions Remain'

From May 14: 'More Legal Trouble For Former Avon Daycare Over Child Sex Assault Allegations'

From May 13: 'Avon Daycare Clarifies Sex Assault Suspect's Prior Assignments, Defends Hiring Practices: UPDATE'

From May 8: 'Ex-Preschool Worker Charged In Avon Child Abuse Case Worked At 3 Other Sites: Company'

From April 24: 'Police: Avon Daycare Worker Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 5 Children: UPDATE'

From April 23: 'Avon Child Care Center Announces Closure Following Abuse Allegations, Lawsuit'

From April 9: 'Avon Daycare Sued Over Allegations 3-Year-Old Was Abused: Court.'

From April 1: 'Avon Preschool Employee Accused Of 'Inappropriate Contact:' Police'