25 Investigates: 'Lack of evidence' allows repeat sex offender to walk away free

The Essex County District Attorney's Office told 25 Investigates they did not seek a Superior Court indictment against a registered sex offender accused of breaking into a woman's dorm room due to a "lack of evidence."

Initially, the case was in Salem District Court, but it was dismissed in February due to a clerical error that delayed the prosecution from obtaining phone records.

Tyler Jacquard, 33, was charged with two counts of burglary and disorderly conduct, a subsequent offense for a series of crimes that took place at Endicott College in Beverly in November.

According to the criminal complaint obtained by 25 Investigates, Jacquard broke into two residence halls and entered a dorm room where he "awakened a female student from her sleep while standing at the foot of her bed."

Jacquard was identified by Endicott Police in multiple images recorded by campus surveillance cameras. When questioned on campus, Jacquard told Endicott Police he was meeting a friend named "Joe," but he didn't know "Joe's" last name or where he lived.

The Essex County District Attorney's provided 25 Investigates with this statement when asked about the case:

The District Attorney's Office, in conjunction with the Endicott College police, followed every lead and pursued every investigative avenue to obtain evidence necessary to secure an indictment.  The evidence simply was not there.  Through the efforts of our prosecutors, Mr. Jacquard was held and found to be in violation of his probation in another case.  The case was dismissed without prejudice by the judge.  Our investigation remains open in the event that evidence is found that would support an indictment.

This is not the first time Jacquard has been accused of targeting female college students in the Boston area with little or no repercussions. His criminal history includes at least 23 arraignments and approximately 10 convictions for lewd and lascivious behavior, and open and gross conduct according to court documents.

In 2017, Police arrested Jacquard on the campus of Wellesley College after two students identified him as the man who had been him peeping into dorms at the all-women's school.

In a written statement obtained by 25 Investigates, one Wellesley College student wrote, "I am 100% confident the man I saw at my window is the same man campus police arrested."

A Dedham District Court Judge found Jacquard not guilty at trial.

In 2016, Jacquard was accused of indecent behavior on the campus of Boston University after a student told police she saw him touching himself in a parked car outside her apartment.

"I was really in the heart of the college area and there were only college students that lived on that block. It was all young women, and he clearly knew that when men would walk by the car, he would stop what he was doing so it was clear he had an intent to be there to see young women," said BU graduate Kate Donnellan.

Donnellan reported Jacquard's license plate number to police. According to court records, the license plate number revealed, "the car was leased for use as an Uber vehicle by Tyler Jacquard."

Jacquard pleaded guilty and received probation in that case.

"You always want to believe the best in people. I didn't want it to be true, but it's time we hold people accountable for their actions, especially when it's hurting us," Donnellan said.

Jacquard served several months in jail for violating his probation after he was arrested in the Endicott College case. He's since been released and is back at home living with his mother. A law enforcement source tells 25 Investigates that Jacquard is no longer on probation and faces no restrictions.

25 Investigates attempted to speak with him outside his home, but he declined to comment.

The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board recently elevated his status from level to 2 to 3. Level 3 sex offenders are considered most likely to reoffend.

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