A Newark man who worked at a drug-and-alcohol rehab program in Paterson has been charged with sexually assaulting a patient who was living at the facility and was under his supervision, authorities said Wednesday.
Booker Allen
Booker Allen, 55, is charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault and two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, according to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes.
The victim was an in-patient resident at the Straight and Narrow, a non-profit substance abuse treatment center run by the Catholic Diocese of Paterson for 64 years. The facility is located on Straight Street in Paterson.
The assault occurred in April 2016 when the patient was participating in a residential treatment program, Valdes said.
The prosecutor said Allen was a staff member tasked with the supervision of residents, including the victim.
"It should be noted that Mr. Allen is no longer employed by Straight and Narrow," Valdes said.
If convicted of all counts, Allen faces up to 23 years in prison, the prosecutor said. He was held at the Passaic County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Public records show Allen received two years' probation and a $1,000 fine in October 1990 for the manufacture-distribution of heroin and cocaine in Essex County.
No one at Straight and Narrow was available to comment Wednesday morning on Allen or his arrest.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.