Thanks to a parent, a man who is not allowed to be anywhere near a park was found hanging out at one in Ashland.
On Wednesday, June 30th, 2021, Ashland Police Chief Ger Daley was contacted by a parent about a suspicious male that has showed up at Eureka Park in the borough several times. The parent told police that the male had been stopping by the park asking for food and said he was a homeless veteran.
Police arrived on-scene shortly after and made contact with the male who was later identified as Donald Lathrop, 64.
It was learned through an investigation that Lathrop was on the Megan's Law Registry with lifetime registration requirements from being convicted of rape and sexual abuse of a child in 1994.
Police learned that Lathrop was required to reside in Shamokin, and had been living in a wooded area near the park, and failed to update his registration.
A warrant was obtained for felony failure to comply with registration requirements.
On Wednesday evening, Lathrop showed up to the State Police at Stonington to update his information and was taken into custody and transferred back to Ashland Police.
Lathrop was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Rossi and locked up into Schuylkill County Prison on $50,000 straight cash bail.
Photo from the Megan's Law Registry Site