HARTFORD, Conn — A former state Dept. of Children and Families employee is accused of having a relationship with a 15-year-old girl while being assigned to her family's case as an aide, according to Connecticut State Police.
Eliezer Rijos, 40, of Watertown, turned himself in to police on Tuesday morning and was charged with risk of injury to a child and tampering with physical evidence.
Between July 2022 and September 2022, Rijos had a relationship with the 15-year-old girl, which involved them exchanging inappropriate text messages, pictures and videos, according to the arrest warrant. Rijos would use his work phone to send these messages, before eventually trying to initiate a conversation with the victim on his personal phone, the investigation revealed.
State police were asked to help Wolcott police with the investigation last month.
Rijos resigned last week after DCF showed him pictures of the text messages that the victim's uncle sent them, the arrest warrant said.
"I find this alleged behavior by this former employee to be egregious and reprehensible and should be addressed to the fullest extent of the law," State DCF Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes said in a statement. "No child or youth should be subjected to or victimized by this type of behavior."
Rijos was held on a $150,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
Anyone who suspects a child is experiencing abuse or neglect is asked to call the Child Abuse and Neglect Careline at 1-800-842-2288. Callers can remain anonymous.
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