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Court Briefs

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; 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.</p><p>The proceeding for Robert M. Collins, 53, of Mountain Top, was initially slated for Thursday before District Judge David A. Barilla.</p><p>But a new preliminary hearing date has been set for March 5 in Luzerne County Central Court.</p><p>The suspended lawman will be represented by Philadelphia defense attorney Evan T.L. Hughes from Hughes Law Firm LLC, according to court records.</p><p>A call to the firm&#8217;s office was not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon.</p><p>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.</p><p>Collins was arrested by state troopers Jan. 22 after he finished a shift.</p><p>As described in affidavits against him, four women allege Collins sexually assaulted them while he was on duty between August 2013 and December 2014.</p><p>Collins is free on $125,000 bail. Following his arrest, he was placed on paid suspension pending an internal investigation.</p><p>The 12-year veteran of the force earned $71,680 in 2018, city records show.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_R-Collins-mug-shot-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Collins </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_R-Collins-mug-shot-3.jpg</photo0><caption0>Collins </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Dan Stokes</p><p>dstokes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Dan Stokes at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @ByDanStokes</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Suspended WB cop’s hearing pushed back, hires Philly attorney