Lyons, NY-- NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs Special Prosecutor Patricia E. Gunning announced today that Steven Tomlin (DOB: 05/02/77), who was accused of having sexual contact with a woman in his care while employed by the Finger Lakes Addictions, Counseling & Referral Agency, Inc. (FLACRA) pled guilty in Wayne County Court before the Honorable John B. Nesbitt to:

• One count of Rape in the third degree, a class “E” Felony.

Tomlin, who is a resident of Waterloo, admitted he engaged in sexual acts with the victim on three separate occasions at a halfway house licensed by the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).  Under the law, a victim who is receiving treatment in a residential facility under the jurisdiction of OASAS is incapable of giving consent.

“The Justice Center will not stand idly by as those who are striving to free themselves from addiction are subjected to sexual abuse,” said Gunning.  “Counselors, social workers and employees like Steven Tomlin who use their positions of trust at substance abuse programs under OASAS’ jurisdiction to prey on the people in their care will be held accountable when they sexually abuse vulnerable New Yorkers.”

As a condition of a plea agreement, Tomlin will be sentenced to 3-years in state prison, to be followed by 10-years parole. The defendant will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be permanently barred from working with individuals with special needs in New York State.  Sentencing has been scheduled for January 8, 2015.

The incident first came to the attention of law enforcement officials when it was reported to the Justice Center’s Vulnerable Persons Central Register (VPCR) Hotline.  A call center representative opened a case tracking file.  Justice Center investigators, with assistance from the Newark Police Department launched an investigation which resulted in the arrest.

The case is being prosecuted by Justice Center Assistant Special Prosecutors Andrew Botts and Rachel Dunn.

The Justice Center and its statewide hotline and incident reporting system began operations on June 30, 2013. It is staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week by trained professionals who receive reports of allegations of abuse and neglect of people with special needs. Once a report is received by its Vulnerable Persons Central Register (VPCR) Hotline, it is logged and assessed. Serious cases of abuse or neglect are assigned to the Justice Center’s investigation team or, when appropriate, to a local law enforcement agency for follow-up.

The Justice Center also maintains a statewide registry of all persons who have been found to be responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse and neglect. Once placed on the registry, known as the “Staff Exclusion List” or SEL, they are prohibited by law from ever working again with people with disabilities or special needs.

The Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) is one of six state agencies under the jurisdiction of the Justice Center. The Justice Center also oversees certain facilities or programs that are operated, licensed or certified by the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the Office of Mental Health (OMH), the Department of Health (DOH), the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), and the State Education Department (SED).

A photo of Steven Tomlin is contained in the attached PDF document.