Brigantine Cop Admits to Child Sex Assault

A Brigantine police officer has pleaded guilty to charges connected to the exploitation of his position as a police officer in order to sexually assault a child, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain said.

Brigantine Police Officer Ralph M. Pereira, now 45, pleaded guilty to official misconduct and sexual assault on Friday, May 20. He admitted to abusing his power to engage in sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl while he was off-duty.

He faces five years  in New Jersey State prison for official misconduct, with a period of parole ineligibility of two years.
He faces a concurrent five-years sentence on the sexual assault count.

He will also be subject to Megan’s Law sex offender registration and parole supervision for life upon release from prison.

He was arrested on  May 19, 2014, following an investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, assisted by the Brigantine Police Department.

He was later indicted on 17 criminal counts, including:

• 8 counts of Official Misconduct for both unauthorized acts and non-performance of duties;  
• Engaging in a Pattern of Official Misconduct;  
• 2 counts of Sexual Assault;
• 2 counts of Criminal Sexual Contact, and
• 4 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child for engaging in conduct which would impair the morals of a child, causing harm that would make the victim an abused child, photographing the child engaging in a prohibited sexual act or simulation, and possessing nude video and photographs of the victim.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 1.