A Pleasantville man who apparently never properly registered as a Megan's Law offender is jailed on multiple new charges of aggravated sexual assault.
Jose Castro-Vega, 58, is charged in connection with the assault of seven children from Pleasantville and Atlantic City, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
The allegations include that he drugged some of the children with pills to force them to perform sex acts.
Castro-Vega was released from prison in 1998, six years after he was convicted of the sexual assault of a minor. He then moved out of state several times, and did not properly register as required under Megan's Law, an investigation found.
He also served a prison sentence in Pennsylvania before maxing out Dec. 31, 2001.
It seems he escaped detection for years, despite the requirement of lifetime supervision that comes with a conviction under Megan's Law.
A new investigation was sparked last week, after two juveniles came forward alleging sexual abuse by Castro-Vega, according to the charges.
"A very brave 15-year-old young man came forward," Prosecutor William Reynolds told BreakingAC. "In a very short time period, the first victims were interviewed, the defendant was located, charged and detained."
Castro-Vega was arrested last Friday, and charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree sexual assault, along with endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact.
It was then discovered he had failed to register as a sex offender for decades.
Five more juveniles came forward this week, giving detailed accounts of sexual abuse by Castro-Vega, which allegedly included the use of pills to drug them to perform sexual acts.
The allegations resulted in first-degree aggravated sexual assault charges on four victims younger than 13, and a fourth-degree criminal sexual contact charge involving the fifth juvenile.
The case remains an active investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and the Pleasantville Police Department.
"The hard working detectives at ACPO and Pleasantville PD — with guidance and advice from our assistant prosecutors — worked around the clock to take this defendant off the street as soon as humanly possible," Reynolds said. "Thereafter, additional victims came forward and were interviewed. As a result additional charges were filed.
"We urge the public to contact us with any information regarding this case," he added. "It is our mission and paramount to protect our children. We will continue to relentlessly pursue anyone who commits heinous crimes like this in Atlantic County."
No photo was available of Castro-Vega.
He is being held in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending a detention hearing.
