Ocean County authorities announced that Me. Thomas Lockhart, 61, of Seaside Park, was arrested and charged with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:7-2d(1), also known as Megan’s Law.
Officials said an investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Megan’s Law Unit and Seaside Park Police Department revealed that Lockhart – a previously convicted sex offender -had been living at the Desert Palm Motel in Seaside Park, and then allegedly moved without registering or notifying the appropriate local law enforcement agencies.
On April 19, 2021, a warrant was issued for Lockhart’s arrest. As a result, on April 27, 2021, Officers of the Manchester Township Police Department performed a motor vehicle stop on a vehicle being operated by Lockhart.
Officials said Lockhart was taken into custodywithout incident, and transported to the Ocean County Jail where he remains lodged 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. Failure to comply with this obligation is a third degree crime,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
“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,” Prosecutor Billhimer concluded.
Anyone in possession of information concerning this case, or others allegedly violating Megan’s Law requirements, are encouraged to contact Sergeant John Argento of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 929 2027, extension 2903.
The information may be provided anonymously.
For further information, please visit the State Police Sex Offender Internet Registry at http://www.njsp.org/sex-offender-registry/index.shtml.