In a pair of ex post facto challenges to failure-to-register offenses under Megan’s Law by defendants whose original sex offenses predated the Legislature’s 2007 penalty upgrade, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled 6-1 to reverse the Appellate Division.

After reviewing the consolidated appeals of State v. Hakeem Brown and State v. Rodney Brown, Justice Jaynee LaVecchia delivered the opinion Monday that sends defendant Rodney Brown’s case back to trial court for further proceedings, and reinstates Hakeem Brown’s conviction and sentence.