AVON/WEST HARTFORD/SIMSBURY/WINDSOR, CT — A former employee charged in an Avon child abuse investigation also worked at BrightPath child care centers in West Hartford, Simsbury and Windsor, company officials said Friday.
In a statement, BrightPath said Jan Carlos Berrios-Otero, 29, of Avon, began working at the company’s Avon center in January 2022 and later filled temporary shifts at additional locations, including the Park Road center in West Hartford and facilities in Simsbury and Windsor.
“The former BrightPath employee worked at our Avon center starting in January 2022,” the company said in a statement. “Our preliminary review, which is still ongoing, indicates that he filled in temporarily at our Simsbury, West Hartford on Park Road and 555 Day Hill Road in Windsor centers for a limited number of hours.”
BrightPath said it shared the information with law enforcement, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, and the Office of Early Childhood, as well as families connected to the centers.
“We will continue to work diligently to determine all the facts and remain committed to supporting the police investigation,” the company said.
BrightPath also announced it has launched an external investigation and plans to conduct an independent review once the criminal investigation is completed.
According to Avon police, officers responded on March 31 to the BrightPath Avon Early Learning and Child Care Center after an administrator reported suspected inappropriate contact between a staff member and a child the previous day.
Following an investigation, police obtained an arrest warrant for Berrios-Otero, who was arrested April 1. He initially was charged with one count of risk of injury to a minor and one count of fourth-degree sexual assault.
Police said detectives later secured additional arrest warrants connected to six alleged incidents involving five children in Avon.
Berrios-Otero now faces multiple additional counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.
He was also charged with aggravated sexual assault of a minor because multiple alleged victims were younger than 13.
Berrios-Otero is still being held on a $1 million bond and will next appear in Litchfield Superior Court on June 23, according to online court records.
The BrightPath Avon facility on Simsbury Road closed on May 22.
The company cited recent “disruptions” and said the closure decision was made with families in mind.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Avon police are asking parents with concerns to contact detectives or the Child Abuse Investigation Team of Northwest Connecticut.
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'
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