TOMS RIVER – Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Beachwood Police Chief Robert Tapp announced the arrests of two Missouri men who will be extradited back to New Jersey on two first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault charges.
The charges stem from incidents that occurred in Beachwood between 2001 and 2007.
Pedro Manzano, 46, of Cameron, Missouri, was arrested and charged with two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault and Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact. He is currently lodged in the Clinton County (Missouri) Jail. Manzano agreed to be extradited to New Jersey to answer the charges. He will be lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Juan Manzano, 52, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was arrested and charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault in and Sexual Assault and is currently lodged in the Buchanan County (Missouri) Jail. He is contesting extradition to New Jersey.
The defendants were arrested following an investigation that concluded with the victims coming forward and disclosing acts of sexual abuse to detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Beachwood Police Department.
It was determined through investigation that the two men allegedly responsible for the crimes reside in Missouri. Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit traveled to Missouri and arrested the Manzanos with the assistance of the Cameron Police Department and St. Joseph Police Department on Sept. 17.
“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. Anyone with additional information concerning these individuals should contact Sergeant 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 said.
Billhimer thanked the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit and 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 — all of Missouri – “for their hard work and combined assistance in apprehending these defendants,” Bilhimer said.
