Manhattan Beach resident charged with child molestation
- Ronald Balmayne
Manhattan Beach resident Ronald Balmayne, 76, was charged with two counts of lewd act upon a child and one count of sexual exploitation of a child on July 28, according to a Manhattan Beach Police Department press release. Balmayne will appear in front of court on Thursday, August 11.
Detectives investigated Balmayne after a crime report was filed last month, for the alleged sexual molestation of female children from 1981 to 2002. The police have identified three alleged victims. At the time of the crimes, the victims ranged from 5 to 11 years old, said Stephanie Martin, the police department’s press information officer. Two out of the three of the alleged crimes occurred in Manhattan Beach, she said.
The police arrested Balmayne, a 20-year Manhattan Beach resident, in his home on July 26. Balmayne does not have a previous criminal history, Martin said.
Martin encourages open communication between parents and children – “make sure you go over good touch, bad touch,” she said – and noted that parents should be aware of the backgrounds of the individuals in their children’s lives, whether they are neighbors, coaches, tutors or youth group leaders.
The police department asks that anyone with information on Balmayne contact Detective John Loy at 310-802-5121.