A registered Megan's Law offender accused of paying girls for sexual acts was ordered held in jail Tuesday.
William McDermott, 54, faces 17 counts, including two counts of first-degree human trafficking and four counts each of child luring and prostitution of a minor, both second-degree crimes.
Another girl said he groped her inappropriately while he way paying her to move golf balls.
But it was the two cases that were charged after his arrest that could put McDermott in prison for life.
It's alleged that McDermott gave money to three different teens in exchange for sex, including one who had been performing sexual acts in exchange for money nearly weekly since July.
"This wasn't just one victim, this was numerous victims the defendant was reaching out to and targeting," Chief Assistant Prosecutor Erika Halayko told the judge, calling McDermott "an extreme danger to the victims and to the community."
Defense attorney Brendan Shurr claimed the state overcharged the case, stretching the alleged facts to fit the human-trafficking statute.
The two cases that carry potential life sentences involve girls who were 16, which is the age of consent in New Jersey, he said, noting there were no charges of sexual assault.
"If the state wants to say that Mr. McDermott is somehow creepy because he wants to have sex with a 16-year-old, well she might want to take that up with the Legislature because, as it stands now, the state doesn't feel that way," Shurr said. "That's why it's not against the law."
Judge Joseph Levin then interrupted to point out that the human trafficking and endangering statutes under which McDermott is charged set the age of consent at 18.
Levin had four separate public safety assessments to refer to for the hearing. PSAs are used to help determine whether a defendant is held pretrial under bail reform.
The first two charges have the presumption of release, with one calling for McDermott to be released on his own recognizance.
The two filed after his arrest carry the presumption of detention, since each carries a potential life sentence.
Levin found that McDermott is a danger and ordered him held.
Despite being a registered sex offender, "the defendant engaged in a multitude of sexual misconduct with minors," the judge said. "I agree with the state that the defendant clearly has a predilection for underage girls."
Multiple neighbors told BreakingAC that there had been rumors McDermott was a sex offender, but they were never notified of his Megan's Law status.
While McDermott appears to have been properly registered, he is not listed on the public registry accessible online. Not all Megan's Law offenders are required to be on the public list, a fact many in the public do not realize.
He will remain in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
