Authorities in Connecticut, United States have recently taken two men into custody following separate investigations into allegations of sexual assault. While the cases are unrelated, both involve individuals in positions of authority or trust within their respective workplaces—one a head chef at a local restaurant and the other a staff member at a childcare facility.
Waterbury chef Walid Gad
On March 25, 2026, state police arrested Walid Gad, 55, of Waterbury, Connecticut following an intensive investigation by the Western District Major Crime Squad of the Connecticut State Police. He served as the head chef at a restaurant in Woodbury, Connecticut and has no prior criminal history. He faces five counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of fourth-degree sexual assault.
The investigation began in August 2025 when three former employees reported they had been assaulted between January 2025 and June 2025. The victims, who were undocumented immigrants at the time, alleged that he used their legal status as leverage, threatening to contact immigration authorities or terminate their employment if they spoke out. One victim detailed multiple instances where she was forced into sexual acts at the restaurant.
According to the arrest affidavit, the restaurant owner allegedly attempted to suppress the allegations in June 2025 by offering two victims $20,000 in cash for their silence—an offer they refused. As the investigation widened, authorities identified three additional victims who are U.S. citizens. While he admitted to sexual contact with one individual, claiming it was consensual, he denied allegations involving other staff members. He is being held on a $750,000 bond.
Avon daycare center employee Jan Carlos Berrios-Otero
On March 31, 2026, Jan Carlos Berrios-Otero, 29, of Avon, Connecticut was arrested by Avon Police Department officers following a report of inappropriate contact at a childcare center. He was taken into custody in Middletown, Connecticut and charged with one count of risk of injury to a minor and one count of fourth-degree sexual assault.
The charges stem from an incident reported by administrators at the BrightPath Avon Early Learning and Child Care Center on Simsbury Road in Avon. Following the report on March 30, 2026, the facility took immediate action, notifying the Avon Police Department, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and state licensing agencies.
After the arrest, BrightPath confirmed that Berrios-Otero is no longer employed at the center and emphasized that the safety of children remains their highest priority. Police continue to work with the administration to identify and notify any other families who may have been impacted. He is currently being held on a $250,000 bond.
CONAN Daily 