Monday, October 15, 2007

Child Psychologist Charged With Raping Boy in Her Care

From the North County Gazette and Capital News 9 for the photo, with a video at the link

A county psychologist court-appointed to counsel a 14-year-old male teen has been charged by the New York State Police with second degree rape, a felony.

Jennifer Hastings, 32, an employee of the Rensselaer County Unified Family Services, has been charged with having sexual contact with her patient on several occasions including in her car, area motels and her Sand Lake residence.

State Police said that the school resource officer at Tamarac High School in Brunswick became suspicious when Hastings picked up the teenager from the school and claimed to be his sister. An BCI investigation revealed that she was the boy’s court-appointed counselor and that she had allegedly moved the counseling sessions from the school to her car in the school parking lot. Police said that the teen has admitted having sexual intercourse with Hastings.

Hastings has been remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail. She has been suspended with pay by Rensselaer County where she had been employed since 2003.

State Police said the investigation is still open and that Hastings may have had sexual contact with other children. Anyone having information about the case may contact the State Police at 518-732-4644.

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