Handcuffs (Shorebeat File Photo/ banspy/ Flickr)
Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Victims Unit traveled to Missouri where they arrested two suspects for incidents of sex abuse in Beachwood between 2001 and 2007.
Pedro Manzano, 46, of Cameron, Missouri and Juan Manzano, 52, of St. Joseph, Missouri, were taken into custody with the help of local police. Both are lodged in county jails in Missouri pending extradition hearings.
According to prosecutors, the suspects were arrested following an investigation that commenced as a result of 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 an investigation that the pair had moved and were residing 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,” a statement from the prosecutor said.
Pedro Manzano is facing charges of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual contact. Juan Manzano is charged with aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault.
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,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
