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February 27, 2008

Alleged sexual predator arrested

A Highland Avenue man was arrested and charged with violating Megan’s Law.

Robert Brian Hebb, 43, of Apartment 2, 1606 Highland Ave., was arrested by Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies and turned over to the Pennsylvania state police.

He was arraigned before District Judge Scott McGrath on three county of failing to comply with Megan’s Law, which requires the registration of sexual offenders. He was placed in the Lawrence County jail on $25,000 bond.

Police said Hebb had been convicted of aggravated sexual battery in Tennessee in 1998. He moved to Lawrence County in July. At that time, he notified state police that he lived on Tanglewood Drive, Pulaski Township, as is required under Megan’s Law.

Trooper Joseph Vascetti said that since then, Hebb moved to Edinburg, to the Rescue Mission in New Castle and most recently to Highland Avenue. He had not reported these changes of address to the state police, Vascetti said. He added that police also discovered Hebb recently had bee fired from his job at an Ellwood City construction company.

Under Megan’s Law, Vascetti said, all convicted sexual predators are required to notify state police within 48 hours of any new address or change in employment, education or job training status.

Vascetti said Hebb had been found through a routine check that revealed Hebb had moved but not notified state police.

On Thursday, police filed three counts of failure to comply with registration of sexual offender requirements before McGrath, who issued a warrant for Hebb, and an alert was issued to all Lawrence County law enforcement agencies.

At 4 p.m. Friday, two Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies spotted Hebb trying to get into his car at Crestview Gardens.

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