Teen in DCF care allegedly trafficked for sex by worker at DCF-financed group home, AG says

A minor in the care of the state Department of Children and Families was allegedly trafficked for sexual servitude by a worker at a Saugus group home that is operated under contract to the state’s child protection agency, prosecutors said Friday.

Ashley Goodrich, 27, faces four counts of trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude, one count of deriving support from prostitution of a minor, and four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to Attorney General Maura Healey’s office.

Goodrich, according to Healey’s office, is a Lynn resident who was indicted by a grand jury Thursday.

According to prosecutors, Goodrich was an employee of Eliot Community Human Services, which ran a group home for minors in the custody of DCF at which the children were expected to receive support programs and services.

Goodrich, however, allegedly used her access to the children to recruit the child to perform sex acts in Worcester and Boston that were arranged after she posted online ads promising sex in return for cash, Healey’s office alleged.

Goodrich allegedly drove the minor to the pre-arranged meetings that were sometimes held while the teen had fled the Saugus home, prosecutors said in a statement.

The charges came following a four-month investigation after the case was referred to Healey’s office by the Suffolk district attorney’s office.

Goodrich has since been fired by Eliot, the state closed the Saugus group home in May, and seven minors have been relocated “to ensure their safety and well-being,” according to the DCF.

The victim is receiving services and assistance through the attorney general’s office, prosecutors said.

Goodrich will be arraigned in the superior courts in Worcester and Suffolk counties at a later date.