MANCHESTER – A Manchester man has been arrested after failing to register himself as a Megan’s Law Sex Offender, officials said.
On September 28, Ralph Downey, Jr., 21, was charged with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender when he did not meet his annual registration requirement with any law enforcement agencies.
He was arrested without incident by officers of the Manchester Township Police Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Megan’s Law Unit and is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
“Since 1994, Megan’s Law requires certain sex offenders to register with their local police departments whenever they move and/or change their residential address or place of employment. Failure to comply with this obligation is a third-degree crime,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.
Anyone with relevant information regarding this case – or others violating Megan’s Law requirements – should contact Sgt. John Argento of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027 ext. 2903. The information may be provided anonymously.
For further information, visit the State Police Sex Offender Internet Registry at:
njsp.org/sex-offender-registry/index.shtml.
The charges referenced are merely accusations and the public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
