Suspected Child Sex Abuser Pleads Guilty

A South Toms River 66-year-old, incarcerated since July 2014 on suspicion of sexually abusing a pair of children repeatedly during an eight-year span, now risks  a decade or more in prison for his guilty plea to aggravated sexual assault.

Prosecutors are seeking 13 years for Marcelo Saavedra, along with a no-early-release stipulation, lifetime parole supervision, registration as a sex offender under Megan's Law and avoidance of contact with the victims under Nicole's Law, according to the office of Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato.

Defense lawyers have asked for a 10-year state prison term, in which the no-early-release requirement of 85 percent would apply, authorities said.

Saavedra was arrested last July 17. The 14- and 15-year-olds described sexual abuse that continued sporadically between 2004 and 2012 in South Toms River and Beachwood, authorities said.

Sentencing is scheduled to take place following psychological evaluations, authorities said.