Former Day Care Worker Due in Court on Child Assault Case

BOSTON, Dec. 6, 2017—A former day care worker convicted seven years ago of sexually assaulting a child in his care is due back in court tomorrow after another child came forward and disclosed abuse to authorities, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

JUAN R. COLON (D.O.B. 8/13/48) of Hyde Park is accused of assaulting a young girl who attended kindergarten at the Rockwood Early Educational Academy in Dorchester about 10 years ago. He was arraigned Nov. 2 in Dorchester Municipal Court.  His next court appearance, which is expected to be administrative in nature, is scheduled to take place in tomorrow.

Following a 2013 jury trial, Colon was convicted of indecent assault and battery on a child for a 2010 assault on another young Rockwood student. He was terminated from his position at Rockwood and is currently on probation following his release from the Suffolk County House of Correction.

The new case stems from disclosures by a girl who had attended Rockwood as a child around 2008.  After disclosing abuse by Colon, the victim took part in a forensic interview with practitioners at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County, the “hub” that surrounds young survivors of physical and sexual abuse and connects them with “spokes” such as law enforcement, social services, clinical care, and family support systems.

Based on information gathered in that interview and subsequent investigation by Boston Police detectives, Colon was arrested Nov. 1 and arraigned the next day in Dorchester court, where his bail was set at $2500 and he was ordered to return tomorrow for an administrative court date.

“Cases like this one are an important reminder to us as parents and caregivers,” Conley said. “It’s up to us to make it clear that kids can come to us with anything that makes them uncomfortable or afraid,” Conley said.  “Make sure they understand that no one who really cares for them would want them to keep a secret from you, and that they won’t get in trouble for telling you about something that’s bothering them, even if it’s hard to talk about.”

Assistant District Attorney Janine D’Amico of the DA’s Child Protection Unit is prosecuting the case. Catherine McGuane is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate.

 

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.