Unregistered sex offender faces charges

The man was arrested twice Wednesday.

STAFF REPORT

SHARON, Pa. — Police are notifying the community of a sex offender who’s moved to the city after charging the man with failing to register with police when he arrived.

Police Chief Michael Menster said Ricky George Ford Sr., 32, of 130 Jefferson Ave., also had several other arrests after being charged Dec. 4 with failing to register according to Megan’s Law.

Ford moved to Sharon three months ago from California, where he was convicted of rape in 1995, Menster said.

Since his arrest on the charge of failing to register, which is a felony, he has been out of jail on bond and has been arrested five times. He’s been charged with disorderly conduct, retail theft and public drunkenness in those cases, the most recent of which were Wednesday when he was arrested twice, Menster said.

Menster said Ford was arrested at Sharon Regional Hospital and charged with disorderly conduct for loud, profane and threatening conduct. Menster said he didn’t know why Ford was at the hospital.

Menster said Ford was cited and released at the police station, then later was arrested at Willow Village apartments on Sterling Avenue after the state liquor store across the street from the police station complained that he had shoplifted brandy.

He was charged with retail theft, disorderly conduct for threatening behavior in the store and public drunkenness, Menster said. He was in the county jail Thursday after failing to post $5,000 bond.

Menster said Ford first came to the attention of police when he was arrested on a charge of retail theft in October. He pleaded guilty to that charge in November. A fingerprint check revealed that he was an unregistered sex offender, Menster said.