A Mullica Township man accused of sexually assaulting his two stepdaughters was ordered held in jail Friday.
German Colin-Torres, 34, was arrested earlier this month after his now-18-year-old daughter and her 13-year-old sister told their mother about the alleged abuse, according to the affidavit of probable cause in the case.
The older teen said the abuse began when she was 11 years old and continued until she was 15.
Colin-Torres, who has three other children, admitted to abusing the older girl in a recorded phone call with the girls' mother, the affidavit states.
During the call, Colin-Torres "was apologetic and sounded like he was crying," the investigator wrote. "He told (the girl's mother) that whatever (she) said is what happened."
But in his statement, he denied the older victim's assertion that he raped her.
Colin-Torres admitted he inappropriately touched the older daughter about five to six years ago when she was about 12 or 13, the affidavit states.
During a detention hearing Friday, defense attorney Gary Daniels said while his client was "forthright" in both the intercepted call and an interrogation by investigators about abusing the older girl several years ago, he denies any involvement with the now-13-year-old.
Daniels described his client as "a hard-working industrious individual with his own landscaping business" who is the sole financial support for his now-estranged wife and children.
He said conditions like prohibiting interaction with juveniles that could be imposed to allow for Colin-Torres' release pending trial.
But Assistant Prosecutor Dave Ruffenach said that would not be reasonable.
"Sometimes a child doesn’t report (abuse) for months or years or ever,” Ruffenach said. "We’re counting on a child he would have had contact with notifying law enforcement. It’s not a reasonable condition that can be imposed."
Superior Court Judge Rodney Cunningham agreed and ordered the defendant held.
Colin-Torres did not speak during the hearing, but listened via a Spanish interpeter.
He remains in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
