Field Hockey Coach Accused Of Soliciting Sexual Pictures From Bridgewater Girl

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A travel field hockey coach was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor after police say he sent sexually explicit text messages to a young Bridgewater girl and solicited sexual images from her.

Brett Clay, 39, of Healthquest Boulevard, Flemington, was charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, county and township authorities said.

On March 27, the Bridgewater Police Department contacted the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit regarding an allegation that a travel field hockey coach employed by a private field hockey program located in Mount Olive, was exchanging sexually explicit text messages with a 17-year-old female player, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said.

The 17-year-old female victim, a Bridgewater resident, was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center by detectives from the Special Victim’s Unit.

The victim said she was talking with her travel coach Clay through text messages. In late December 2023 or early January 2024, the victim said the messages became sexual in nature and at one point, Clay offered the victim money in exchange for sexually explicit images, said McDonald.

An investigation was conducted by detectives from the Bridgewater Police Department and detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit.

Clay was arrested on March 28 in Raritan Township and charged. He was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Anyone with information relating to this investigation is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Bridgewater Township Police Department at 908 725 4111 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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