A Cape May County woman is accused of acting as “lookout” while her boyfriend and another man sexually assaulted her preschool-age daughter.
Teresa Millard, 34, of the Villas, was ordered held in the Cape May County Justice Facility during a detention hearing last week.
The mother of five is accused of being in contact with her boyfriend, Ryan Roach, and another man via walkie-talkie while the two assaulted the girl, who was about 4 years old at the time.
She is charged with second-degree endangering, along with aggravated sexual assault of a victim younger than 13 and conspiracy to commit aggravated sexual assault.
Millard’s attorney said the case is weak and dependent upon the claims of a “jailhouse snitch (who) got a hold of Mr. Roach’s discovery.”
Millard was arrested last week, after an investigation sparked by a Cape May County jail inmate, who gave a statement that Roach told him of the assault, and how the mother acted as lookout.
The victim confirmed that her mother was present during the sexual assault by the two men, according to the affidavit.
Roach and the other man, Willis Allen Jr., were charged last year, after the girl — then 6 years old — told her resource parent in the foster system that “Daddy Ryan” and “Junior” had inappropriately touched her chest and genitals, and digitally penetrated her.
By then, Roach was in Bayside State Prison serving an 18-month sentence relating to a 2017 incident involving a firearm, records show.
His sentence was finished April 8, and he was transferred to the Cape May County jail on charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and third-degree endangering.
Roach, now 30, is accused of assaulting the girl several times while he and Millard lived together from March 1 to Aug. 8, 2017, when the girl was just 3 years old.
The abuse allegedly continued after Millard moved to a blueberry farm in Belleplain with Allen and his mother, Carol.
At that time, Millard was already under the supervision of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, according to the affidavit and information provided during the hearing.
Carol Allen, who owns the farm, was supposed to have “sight and sound supervision” of Millard when she had visits with her daughter.
That is often a requirement for DCPP supervision, where the overseer must always be able to see and hear the parent and child when they are together.
Roach was not to have any contact with the girl at that time, Millard later told investigators.
Allen, 29, was arrested July 19, 2019, on charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and third-degree child endangerment.
At that time, Millard told investigators that Roach “had continuous access to (the victim) during their dating relationship.”
She also said there was an incident while living with the Allens, when she found her daughter hiding under her bed.
Millard said the girl told her that Allen “had entered her bedroom in the middle of the night and that she was afraid of him.”
Then, on Jan. 10 , the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office received a letter from inmate Jay Calcott, asking to talk to a detective. During a subsequent interview, Calcott relayed what Roach allegedly told him about Millard.
“I think probable cause is suspect in this case,” defense attorney Tom Rossell told the judge.
Assistant Prosecutor Bryna Batten argued for detention, saying Millard had repeatedly gone to court to regain custody of the girl. The woman also has four sons, who are living with a family member.
Batten also referenced an interview the mother gave, when she alleged said even if Roach admitted to her that he had abused her daughter, “she would always be in contact with him and support him.”
“And that is of concern to the state,” Batten told Judge Christopher Gibson.
Gibson ordered Millard detained.
Allen was released from the county jail Sept. 16, jail records show.
