Convicted Ocean County Sex Offender Charged For Not Registering Residency

Thomas Lockhart (Photo courtesy Ocean County Jail)

  SEASIDE PARK – A borough man was arrested and charged for failing to register as a sex offender according to an announcement by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

  Borough resident Thomas Lockhart, 61, was discovered to have been in noncompliance of registering as a sex offender which is a violation of Megan’s Law.

  The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Megan’s Law Unit and Seaside Park Police conducted a joint investigation that revealed Lockhart, a previously convicted sex offender, had been living at the Desert Palm Motel in Seaside Park.

  He allegedly moved without registering or notifying the appropriate local law enforcement agencies and on April 19, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Lockhart was taken into custody following a motor vehicle stop on April 27.

  Manchester Township Police officers performed the motor vehicle stop on a vehicle operated by Lockhart.  Lockhart was taken into custody without incident, and transported to the Ocean County Jail where he remains lodged pending a detention hearing.

  Billhimer said that 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. Failure to comply with this obligation is a third degree crime.”

  “The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, working in conjunction with our local police departments, will be vigilant in making sure that individuals required to register under Megan’s Law are in compliance with their obligations,” Billhimer added.

  Those who have information concerning this case, or others allegedly violating Megan’s Law requirements, are urged to contact Sergeant John Argento of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, extension 2903. 

  This information can be provided anonymously. For further information, visit the State Police Sex Offender Internet Registry at njsp.org/sex-offender-registry/index.shtml.

  Prosecutor Billhimer thanked the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Megan’s Law Unit, Seaside Park Police Department, and Manchester Township Police Department, for their efforts in relation to this case.