By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Somerset County announced the arrest of Brett Clay, 39, of Healthquest Boulevard, Flemington, in relation to explicit conduct with a minor.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said that on March 27, 2024, the Bridgewater Police Department contacted the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit regarding an allegation that a travel field hockey coach employed by a private field hockey program located in Mount Olive, was exchanging explicit text messages with a 17-year-old female player.
Officials said the 17-year-old female victim, a Bridgewater resident, was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center by detectives from the Special Victim’s Unit.
The victim reported communicating with her travel coach, Brett Clay, through text messages, officials stated.
According to officials, the victim stated in late December 2023 or early January 2024, the messages became explicit contact in nature, and at one point, Clay offered the victim money in exchange for explicit images.
Officials say an investigation was conducted by detectives from the Bridgewater Police Department and detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit.
Authorities say that on Thursday, March 28, 2024, Brett Clay was arrested without incident in Raritan Township as a result of this investigation and charged with 2nd-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Minor. Defendant Clay was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing in this matter.