OC man held for court on Megan’s Law registration charge

An Oil City man was held for court Wednesday on a charge of failing to complete his annual Megan’s Law registration.

Timothy Culbertson, 31, had his preliminary hearing before district judge Patrick Lowrey at Venango County Central Court.

Assistant District Attorney Kyle Peasley called one witness, arresting officer Cory Ruditis of the Oil City Police Department.

Ruditis testified that he was contacted by a state parole agent who told him that Culbertson was listed as a non-compliant offender.

When Ruditis and the agent were unable to find Culbertson at his Hoffman Avenue residence, the agent texted Culbertson, who replied that he was at a friend’s shop on Center Street, Ruditis said.

Peasley raised the issue of Culbertson’s employment as the shop is a place children frequent. Ruditis clarified that Culbertson wasn’t employed there but was watching the shop while the owner stepped out.

Ruditis said Culbertson’s explanation for not registering was that he either forgot or couldn’t remember the time frame that he was supposed to register.

Culbertson pleaded guilty in January 2018 to indecent assault on a person less than 13 years of age, according to court documents. He was sentenced to one to two years of confinement and to follow sex offender registration protocols for 10 years.