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<p>A former Newport Township resident will remain designated a sexual violent predator.</p><p>James Walter Zerby III, 48, was deemed the designation by Luzerne County Judge Lesa Gelb in 2014, after a Megan&#8217;s Law hearing for his no contest plea to a charge of unlawful contact with a minor.</p><p>Newport Township police arrested Zerby in May 2012, after a girl claimed he repeatedly sexually assaulted her at a residence in Glen Lyon from 2003 through 2006. Zerby had been residing in Linden, Lycoming County, when he was arrested.</p><p>Gelb sentenced Zerby in September 2013 to three to seven years in state prison. After a Megan&#8217;s Law hearing in March 2014, Gelb determined Zerby was a sexual violent predator who likely would re-offend.</p><p>The designation requires Zerby to register his residential and employment addresses with state police every three months for 25 years.</p><p>Zerby appealed the designation with the state Superior Court, claiming prosecutors at the Megan&#8217;s Law hearing failed to present convincing evidence that he is likely to engage in predatory sexually violent offenses in the future.</p><p>In a six-page opinion, the appellate court denied Zerby&#8217;s appeal.</p><p>The Superior Court included Gelb&#8217;s 12-page opinion they called &#8220;thorough and well-reasoned,&#8221; in finding that Zerby met the diagnostic criteria of pedophilia and there appeared to be likelihood of re-offense.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_James-Zerby-III-8-28-12.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Zerby </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_James-Zerby-III-8-28-12.jpg</photo0><caption0>Zerby </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Ed Lewis at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TLEdLewis</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Superior Court upholds violent sexual assault designation by Luzerne County judge