A former New Jersey police officer will spend the next five years behind bars for sexually assaulting a teen girl, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Monday.
Former Brigantine Police Officer Ralph M. Pereira was arrested in 2014 on accusations he committed sexual acts against a 16-year-old girl while on duty.
One year later, the Atlantic Jury indicted him on 17 criminal counts, including sexual Assault, official Misconduct, and child Endangerment.
The 46-year-old offender pleaded guilty to official misconduct and sexual assault on May 20, 2016. As a result, an Atlantic County Superior Court judge sentenced Pereira to five years in New Jersey State prison, and ordered him to forfeit his right to hold public office.
Pereira must serve two years of his sentence for parole eligibility, the judge said.
He will register as a sex offender upon his prison release, the office said.
