Prison Guard Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 2 Inmates At Avenel Prison For Sex Offenders

PISCATAWAY, NJ — A corrections officer at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel is accused of sexually assaulting two inmates housed there, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said Friday.

Correctional Police Officer Anthony Nelson, 37, a Piscataway resident, was arrested Monday and charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault and two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.

The two inmates, both men, told authorities Dec. 1 they were sexually assaulted by a corrections officer over the Nov. 29/30 weekend. As a corrections officer, it was Nelson's job to supervise inmates there.

The Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center, located in the Avenel section of Woodbridge, is the only prison in the state that provides incarceration and treatment for repetitive and compulsive male sex offenders. The prison only houses men. It is operated by the NJ Department of Corrections.

Nelson will be detained at the Middlesex County Jail until his arraignment.

The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information should contact Christopher Van Eerde or Detective Tammy Colonna at 732-745-3300 or Investigator Smith at 856-812-3310.