Three violated Megan’s Law, police say

Two convicted sex offenders found living in Nanticoke were arraigned Tuesday for failure to register their current addresses to comply with Megan’s Law, according to court records.

A third man also was charged recently with failing to register as a sex offender.

Ronald Avery, 50, of 289 E. Union St., and Michael Robert Backley, 53, of 125 E. Grand St., were required to register their new addresses with the state police but failed to do so.

Avery was convicted of rape in 1989, according to data obtained on the state police Megan’s Law Web site. Backley was convicted of indecent assault in 1985.

Avery was charged with six counts of failure to comply with registration requirements and verify his current address with state police. Those charges are second-degree felonies.

Court records show Avery last registered his address of 31 E. Main St., Glen Lyon, Newport Township, with state police in January 2003. Police said he has not been in compliance since November 2003.

The Megan’s Law Unit continued to send correspondence to Avery’s last address until June 7.

The state police Fugitive Unit found Avery was living at the Nanticoke address for the past month, according to the complaint. He was residing with his daughter and her boyfriend, police said.

Backley was charged with two counts of failure to comply with registration requirements, court records show. He last registered his address of Blue Jay Trailer Park at Harveys Lake on Sept. 25, 2006.

On Dec. 6, 2006, Backley pleaded guilty to a violation of Megan’s Law after he was arrested by Wilkes-Barre police for not changing his address. He was sentenced to nine months.

In 2007, the Megan’s Law Unit sent correspondence to Backley’s last address, but it was returned. State police discovered he was living in Nanticoke with his sister-in law for about one year.

Avery and Backley, who are both in Luzerne County Correctional Facility on $50,000 and $25,000 bail, respectively, have preliminary hearings scheduled for July 29 at Central Court.

Charges recently were filed against a 35-year-old man who failed to register as a sex offender.

Harry Dennis, of 43 Buckingham Ave., Luzerne, was arraigned July 18 on charges of failure to register with Pennsylvania State Police to comply with Megan’s Law, records show. He is in the correctional facility on $10,000 bail.