He admitted to improperly touching the victim while he was babysitting the teen.
WOODBURY -- A city man was sentenced to 8 years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to child sex offenses, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.
Ralph L. Russ, 64, of Woodbury, was sentenced to 8 years in prison after pleading guilty to child sex offenses, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. (Salem County Correctional Facility)Ralph L. Russ, 64, admitted that he improperly touched a girl between the ages of 13 and 16 while he was babysitting the child on Feb. 24, 2014.
He pleaded guilty in January to second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree aggravated sexual contact. The plea came as his trial was about to begin.
Judge Robert P. Becker sentenced Russ to 8 years on the endangering charge and a concurrent 5-year sentence for sexual contact.
An evaluation at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel determined that Russ is a repetitive and compulsive sex offender and qualifies for treatment at the state facility, according to the prosecutor's office.
Russ was convicted of sexual assault in Camden County in 1988.
Because he is a previously convicted sex offender, Russ must serve all 5 years of the sexual contact sentence in state prison without the possibility of parole before he is transferred to Avenel to finish out his sentence.
After release, Russ will have to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law and will face at least 15 years of parole supervision, authorities said.
Russ' attorney, Chris Manganello issued a statement following Friday's sentencing.
"Mr. Russ has taken full responsibility for his conduct, as evidenced by his statement to police and his plea of guilty," Manganello said. "He is now paying his debt to society and the victim, and looks forward to getting the treatment he needs."
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.