A man with a lengthy sexual offense criminal history was arrested Friday on St. Thomas for failure to register as a sexual offender, the Police Department indicated in a press release. Police said Ralph M. Joseph, 49, may also face federal charges in this matter.

Joseph was convicted on various sexual crimes and served time in jail. Following his release on Feb. 15, 2008, after serving about 10 years of his sentence, he was deported to his native Dominica. He allegedly then illegally entered the territory via Antigua and the British Virgin Islands and has been living on St. Thomas for more than a year.

Officers and agents of the Criminal Intelligence and Major Crimes Units received information on July 26 that Joseph may be residing in Anna’s Retreat. On July 27, police officers began roving surveillance patrols in the Anna’s Retreat area attempting to locate Joseph. On Friday, a male fitting Joseph’s description was identified and detained by police.

A check of Joseph’s criminal record on St. Thomas indicated he was arrested on Nov. 23, 1998, convicted on Sept. 7, 1999, and sentenced to time in jail on Oct. 22, 1999.

He was then sentenced to 15 years on each of three counts of aggravated rape, five years on an unlawful sexual contact conviction and 10 years on a child abuse conviction. All sentences were to run concurrently with credit for time served. He was ordered to register as a sexual offender.