Accusers Ask Public’s Help Locating Possible Victims Of James Collins

See Update: Feds Charge Former Coach With Sexual Exploitation, Enticement Of Minor

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Accusers of a Bedford Hills man, who is already facing child sexual abuse charges, are trying to find other possible victims.

These accusers say that the effort to find other victims came in part after investigators told them that sexual predators don't stop unless they are stopped.

On Nov. 7, 67-year-old James Collins, owner of "Jimmy’s" bar in Katonah, was arrested by the New Castle Police Department on charges of engaging in sexual activity with a minor under the age of 17. The arrest took place at the public library in Chappaqua, according to lawyers representing several alleged former victims of Collins.

SEE ALSO: Bedford Hills Man Arrested For Sexual Abuse Of A Minor In Chappaqua

Collins was also named as a defendant along with the Village of Mount Kisco, the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester and the Chappaqua Central School District in a civil lawsuit filed in September of 2020 under the NY Child Victims Act.

"Despite the exposure of civil liability, Collins allegedly could not inhibit his sexual impulses towards kids and has been arrested for this alleged behavior," an attorney for those alleged victims, Saul Wolf, said. "It is our understanding that it is alleged that Collins used social media to entice minors."

SEE ALSO: Sex Abuse Suit Filed Against Former Coach, Village and District

In November of 2018, after learning that Collins was working with children at a K-12 school in Westchester County, several men now represented by the law firm of Manly, Stewart & Finaldi began reporting past sex crime allegations involving Collins, who is a former summer camp coordinator, baseball coach and school employee, to law enforcement agencies.

The men have made allegations that Collins began preying on children, including themselves, nearly 50 years ago. To back up their allegations, the alleged victims recorded conversations of Collins talking about his past sexual conduct with children, according to the lawyers.

"Collins' recent arrest indicates that his alleged sexual predation of children has now spanned over six decades," said Scott Roth, an alleged sexual abuse victim of Collins. "He apparently won’t stop. He said it himself. He can’t stop."

At the time these accusers came forward, the criminal statute of limitations had expired, and Collins could not be charged with a crime.

"Jimmy Collins may have been arrested years ago if there were no criminal statute of limitations restrictions," Greg Ardanowski, an accuser of Collins, said. "It seems that New York’s criminal child sexual abuse laws don’t do enough to mitigate the risk that sexual predators present to children."

Collins is currently facing charges of one count of a third-degree criminal sex act. He was released on $7,500 bail and his next court date is scheduled for January 25.

Along with other accusers of Collins, Ardanowski and Roth are urging anyone with information about possible crimes committed by Collins to contact the New Castle Police Department at 914-238-4422 or Patrol@mynewcastle.org or the Westchester County District Attorney at 914-995-3000.