2 Missouri Men Charged In Beachwood Sex Assault Case

BEACHWOOD, NJ — A pair of Missouri men have been charged in connection with sexual assaults that happened in Beachwood from 2001 to 2007, the Ocean County prosecutor's office announced Friday.

Pedro Manzano, 46, of Cameron, Missouri, and Juan Manzano, 52, of St. Joseph, Missouri, are being held in county jails in Missouri, a joint news release from Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Beachwood Police Chief Robert Tapp said.

Pedro Manzano is being held in the Clinton County Jail and has agreed to be extradited to New Jersey. Juan Manzano is in the Buchanan County Jail, and is fighting extradition, the prosecutor's office said.

The prosecutor's office released few details beyond saying the incidents happened in Beachwood between 2001 and 2007. The victims recently came forward and reported the sexual abuse to detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Beachwood Police Department, authorities said.

The investigation found the two men live in Missouri and detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit traveled to Missouri to arrest the two, with the assistance of the Cameron Police Department and St. Joseph Police Department, on Sept. 17.

Pedro Manzano is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault; sexual assault, and aggravated criminal sexual contact; Juan Manzano is charged with aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault, authorities said.

"While the public should take comfort in the fact that these suspects are in custody, this remains an ongoing investigation and additional charges may be forthcoming," Billhimer said.

Anyone with additional information should contact Sgt. Jason Steele or Detective Stephanie Bayha of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, or Detective David Bowden of the Beachwood Police Department at 732-341-1242.

Billhimer praised the prosecutor’s office Special Victims Unit, the Beachwood Police Department Detective Bureau, as well as the Cameron Police Department, St. Joseph Police Department, Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, and Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department in Missouri for their effort and assistance in the arrests.

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