Two Municipal Officers in Atlantic County Charged in Child Sexual Assaults

Two police officers employed in different municipalities in Atlantic County have been charged with separate and independent acts of child assault and official misconduct, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced on Tuesday.

Each officer allegedly committed the acts while holding a position of authority and disciplinary power over a 16-year-old girl.

Brigantine Police Officer Ralph M. Pereira, 43 of Brigantine, was charged with five indictable offenses: official misconduct, two counts of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, all second degree crimes; and and criminal sexual contact, a fourth degree crime.

He was arrested at his home on Monday without incident and lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.

At the same time, Atlantic City Police Officer Andre Corbin, 43 of Mays Landing, was the target of an investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, assisted by the Atlantic City Police Department Internal Affairs Unit.

Corbin was charged with six indictable offenses: two counts of official misconduct, two counts of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, all second degree crimes; and criminal sexual contact, a fourth-degree crime.

Corbin was also arrested without incident on Monday. He was apprehended in Atlantic City. He was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility, and released after posting $100,000 cash bail.

A second degree crime carries with it a potential sentence of 5 to 10 years of incarceration in New Jersey State prison.

A fourth degree crime carries with it a potential sentence of imprisonment not to exceed 18 months.

Anyone with information about either case is asked to contact Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit Detective Danielle Rosiello at 609-909-7986.