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WILKES-BARRE — A city police officer accused of sexually assaulting four women while on duty has had his preliminary hearing pushed back to March, according to court records.
The proceeding for Robert M. Collins, 53, of Mountain Top, was initially slated for Thursday before District Judge David A. Barilla.
But a new preliminary hearing date has been set for March 5 in Luzerne County Central Court.
The suspended lawman will be represented by Philadelphia defense attorney Evan T.L. Hughes from Hughes Law Firm LLC, according to court records.
A call to the firm’s office was not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon.
According to his website, Hughes is a nationally recognized criminal defense attorney listed as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the United States by Newsweek.
Collins was arrested by state troopers Jan. 22 after he finished a shift.
As described in affidavits against him, four women allege Collins sexually assaulted them while he was on duty between August 2013 and December 2014.
Collins is free on $125,000 bail. Following his arrest, he was placed on paid suspension pending an internal investigation.
The 12-year veteran of the force earned $71,680 in 2018, city records show.