Jefferson Parish Recreation Athletic Director Arrested on Child Exploitation Charges After Mother's Report to Kenner Police

The athletic director for the Jefferson Parish Recreation Department is in custody on two felony charges, accused of possessing child sexual abuse material and of inappropriate communication with a juvenile, Kenner police said.

Police Chief Keith Conley identified the man as Timothy Collins, 67. He said the case began on the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 22, when a mother came to the Kenner police station with her son, worried about text messages on the boy's cellphone.

"It just opened a pandora's box," Conley said. He described the exchanges between Collins and the 14-year-old as having gone on for almost two years, and said other messages had also raised suspicion.

Investigators said the communications included swapped photographs and arranged meetings, along with allegations that Collins gave juveniles alcohol and food. Conley said the messages were enough to win a search warrant.

Detectives found Collins at the recreation department's office in Marrero, where he worked, and took his cellphone. They later found child sexual abuse material on it, according to Conley, who said the images did not show local children. "We believe these are screenshots, grabbed off of internet sites or dark websites," he said Thursday morning, adding that the material appeared to originate outside the country. He cautioned that the investigation was not yet 24 hours old.

Authorities then went to Collins' home in River Ridge, where detectives carried out a second search warrant and arrested him. Conley said Collins gave a statement after being taken into custody that included some admissions, and that other devices were found. "We're going to keep going until we've exhausted all leads," he said.

Police are asking other families to come forward if they suspect their children had inappropriate contact with Collins. Conley noted that Collins held a position of trust, not only with the parish but also in earlier stints as an athletic director at schools around the New Orleans area. "We're just going to go where the evidence leads us," he said.

A Jefferson Parish spokesperson said the parish was told of the arrest by law enforcement and is cooperating with the investigation. Given the seriousness of the charges, the parish has begun termination proceedings, and Collins is barred from all parish facilities. The statement said the safety and well-being of recreation department participants, families and employees remain the parish's top priority.

According to the parish, Collins has served as the recreation department's athletic director since 2021 and previously worked for the parish from 1999 to 2012. As of Thursday afternoon, he remained in the Jefferson Parish jail with bond set at $200,000. Anyone who believes a child may have had inappropriate contact with Collins, or who has relevant information, is asked to call the Kenner Police Department at (504) 712-2415.