Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Richard J. Cloutier Jr. - Repeat Sex Offender

The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry lists Cloutier as having been convicted twice on multiple charges of open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior in 1994 and 1995. He was also listed as being convicted in 1991 on charges of indecent assault and battery of a person 14 years of age or older.



A Salisbury man is being charged with failure to register as a sex offender, as Salisbury police also investigate whether he is behind a rash of incidents related to a man exposing himself on Salisbury Beach.

Richard J. Cloutier Jr., 46, of 131 North End Blvd., was arrested on Friday at his home in Salisbury for failing to register as a convicted level 3 sex offender — a ranking by the state for those considered to be the most likely to re-offend. He was arraigned yesterday at Newburyport District Court and ordered held on $5,000 cash bail as he awaits his next scheduled pretrial hearing on July 1.

Salisbury police Chief David L'Esperance said Cloutier was discovered and arrested for failing to register while police were investigating several reports of a man exposing himself on Salisbury Beach in the 130s block of North End Boulevard.

L'Esperance said police received about nine complaints during the past two weeks from beachgoers about a Caucasian male, described as appearing to be in his 40s, wearing khaki shorts and a dark shirt, exposing himself to beachgoers, primarily women, then running away. In some cases, victims reported the perpetrator was about 20 feet from his victims, and other times he was farther away, L'Esperance said.

Police began surveillance along the beach in the area where the complaints were generated when they found Cloutier at the North End Boulevard home. Salisbury police have previously prosecuted Cloutier and knew of the outstanding warrant, L'Esperance said.

"Detective Sgt. Anthony King was in an unmarked car when he noticed a man walking over to a home on North End Boulevard," L'Esperance said. "He then noticed Cloutier when he opened the door of the house to let the man in. Sgt. King recognized him and knew there was an outstanding felony warrant for him for failing to register as a sex offender."

The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry lists Cloutier as having been convicted twice on multiple charges of open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior in 1994 and 1995. He was also listed as being convicted in 1991 on charges of indecent assault and battery of a person 14 years of age or older.

In 2007, Cloutier was arrested on a charge of failing to register as a sex offender. He eventually pleaded guilty to that charge and was sentenced to two years in prison, said Stephen O'Connell, spokesman from the office of Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett. He was released from Middleton Jail in October 2009, O'Connell said.

In October, Cloutier registered as a sex offender at the Salisbury police station, listing his address as "homeless," according the police report included in court documents. According to the state Sex Offender Registry Board regulations, his homeless status required Cloutier to update his registration every 45 days.

However, according to the Salisbury police report included in court documents, after reregistering on Dec. 1, 2009, Cloutier failed to do so again. On March 24, 2010, realizing Cloutier had failed to update his registration notification as required, a warrant was issued for his arrest for failing to register as a sex offender, according to the police report.

After King discovered his whereabouts on Friday, Cloutier was detained and arrested on the outstanding warrant, L'Esperance said. Police are also investigating whether Cloutier could be involved in the exposure cases.

L'Esperance is asking victims of these incidents to contact the Police Department to see if they can identify Cloutier as the alleged man who took part in the exposure incidents on the beach over the past two weeks.

Those with information can call Detective Sgt. Anthony King at 978-465-3121.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
.........Sarah Tofte

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