A Brigantine police officer was indicted this Thursday for the sexual assault of a 16-year-old female victim, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.
Brigantine Police Officer Ralph M. Pereira, 44, of Brigantine, was indicted by the Atlantic County Grand Jury on ten (10) criminal counts, in connection with the sexual assault of a child in 2012 and 2013:
2 counts of Sexual Assault—a 2nd degree crime, 3 counts of Official Misconduct—a 2nd degree crime, 3 counts of 2nd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, 1 count of 3rd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and 1 count of Criminal Sexual Contact—a 4th degree crime.
An investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, with the assistance of by the Brigantine Police Department, resulted in Pereira’s arrest without incident in Brigantine on May 19, 2014.
The state alleges that Pereira provided the juvenile victim alcohol, committed acts of sexual penetration, and photographed or filmed the victim in a prohibited sexual act, while he held a position of authority and disciplinary power over the victim by virtue of his employment as a public servant.
Pereira was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of $100,000 cash bail, set by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Donna M. Taylor. Pereira was later released on bail.