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A Rape of Trust

County Mental Health case manager arrested for Rape, Sex Abuse One victim, 65-year old woman, the other 30

Other staff workers at the Wayne County Mental Health Department came to Director Jim Haitz with the information. At least two female clients reported that a department case manager, Antonio M. Ojeda, age 44, of North Creek Road in Palmyra, had subjected the women to unwanted sexual contact.

Haitz immediately called the Wayne County Sheriff's Office last week and an investigation was begun. On Wednesday, Ojeda was taken into custody after making admissions to investigators. He was charged with one count of Rape in the 1st degree, a Class B Felony involving a 65 year-old client of the department and Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree, a Class B Misdemeanor, involving a 30 year-old woman.

Sheriff Richard Pisciotti said that although Ojeda is currently charged with only one count each, there were multiple incidents and the investigation is continuing. and will be presented to a Wayne County Grand Jury.

Ojeda was arraigned before Newark Justice Daniel Barrett and remanded to jail on $25,000 cash/$50,000 bond.

Both police and Haitz now believe there may be more victims stretching over Ojeda's seven year career with the County Mental Health Department.

Ojeda, married with one child, resides at 4680 North Creek Road in Palmyra and his wife reportedly operates a licensed child dare care facility out of the couple's home.

As a case worker, Ojeda would monitor a client list of about 20 people, making sure they made appointments, checking on their conditions and assisting them in a variety of tasks. He was one of nine such case workers employed by the department. According to records, Ojeda earns $31,750 plus benefits per year.

One of the tasks Ojeda was responsible for was transporting clients to appointments. Records show Ojeda has two prior Driving While Intoxicated arrests, one in 1988 and the other in 1986 and a Possession of Stolen Property. Both arrests were over 10 years old at the time of his hiring so would not have been reported on Ojeda employment application with the County.