Arrest Made in Arlington Boys & Girls Club Sexual-Abuse Investigation

Arlington police have made in arrest in connection with the investigation into sexual-abuse allegations at the Arlington Boys & Girls Club.

Police arrested Paul A. Collins, 62, of 31 Pleasant Ave., Centerreach, N.Y., Friday and charged him with rape of a child with force, lewdness, open and gross conduct and three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, according to an Arlington Police Department release.

Collins’ crimes allegedly occurred in the late 1970s, early 1980s, and there are five unknown victims at this time, according to police.

Collins was expected to be arraigned at 11 a.m. Saturday at the 1st District Court in Central Islip, N.Y. He was arrested without incident by Arlington police and officers from the Suffolk County Police Department in Centerreach, which is in Long Island, police said. If Collins chooses to waive rendition proceedings, he may be transported to the Arlington police station Saturday, according to police.

The investigation into Collins is ongoing, and Collins is innocent until proven guilty, police stressed.

The current management team at the Boys & Girls Club is fully cooperating with the investigation, police said.

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