By Associated Press - Friday, March 7, 2014

WARREN, Pa. (AP) - A northwestern Pennsylvania probation officer charged with groping and sending lewd text messages to a woman he was supervising has been suspended without pay.

Warren County probation officer Jeffrey Collins, 37, of Sheffield has been charged with indecent assault, harassment by lewd communication, and other crimes by the state police, the (Warren) Times-Observer (https://bit.ly/1hTbs9K ) reported on its website Friday.

The woman was placed on county probation in January, when Collins visited her home to ensure electronic tracking equipment was properly installed. A few weeks later, Collins started sending the woman lewd text messages from his personal and work cellphones, police said.

The incidents happened between Feb. 10 and March 2, during which Collins threatened to revoke the woman’s probation, which could put her in jail, unless she complied with his advances.

Collins wasn’t arrested. He was summoned to answer the charges at a preliminary hearing April 2.

Online court records don’t list an attorney for Collins, who also does not have a telephone listed in his name.

Warren County Chief Adult Probation Officer Carl McKee said Collins has been suspended without pay until the charges are resolved.

“We won’t tolerate misconduct within our county agencies,” District Attorney Rob Green said. “It is still an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information can contact the state police.”

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Information from: Warren Times Observer, https://www.timesobserver.com

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