Trial Date Set For Princeton Animal Control Officer Accused Of Child Sexual Assault

PRINCETON, NJ — The trial of the Princeton Animal Control Officer who was suspended without pay after being charged with child sexual assault in Pennsylvania is now set to begin this fall. Nate Barson, 29, of Lambertville, had previously been scheduled to go to trial on July 13 on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, indecent assault, corruption of minors and criminal use of a communication facility.

But that trial has now been postponed until Sept. 13, according to the Princeton Packet.
Barson was arrested in February and subsequently suspended without pay. He is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old at the Pat Livezey Park in Solebury Township on Feb. 3.

Since then, Princeton has been partnering with Montgomery Township for animal control services. The town is happy with those services, and will consider extending the agreement, according to the report.

During a court appearance earlier this year, the alleged victim said he and Barson met on the the dating website Grinder. They continued to communicate on Snapchat before meeting in person at the park.

The alleged victim’s mother found them in Barson’s truck and was able to take down his license plate number before he left. She reported it to police, and Barson was subsequently arrested. He is currently out on bail.

Barson was also a Crossing Guard in Princeton. He had no criminal record when he was hired by the town. He was hired as the town’s Animal Control Officer in 2015.

The attached image of Nate Barson was previously provided