LAWRENCE — A 38-year-old Lawrence man convicted of indecent assault and battery on a child tops the list of the state's most elusive and dangerous sexual fugitives.

Eric Conalty is wanted for failure to register as a sex offender and for committing unnatural acts on a child, according to a joint alert issued by the Massachusetts State Police and the state's Sex Offender Registry Board.

Conalty, whose last known address was a South Union Street rooming house, is one of 10 "most wanted" Level 3 sex offenders statewide.

A Level 3 offender is considered to be at the highest risk of committing another sex crime and a danger to the community.

Conalty and the other nine men on the "most wanted" list have failed to register as sex offenders as required after convictions on sex charges.

Born in Texas, Conalty was convicted of indecent assault and battery on a child and contributing to the delinquency of a child after a February 2000 jury trial in Lawrence District Court. He was sentenced to two years in jail, with three months to be served, and the balance suspended until September 2003, according to police.

Conalty stands 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds. He has dark hair and eyes, according to a description released by state police.

Anyone with information about Conalty's whereabouts should call Massachusetts State Police at 508-820-2121 or 1-800-KAPTURE (1-800-527-8873).

Do not approach Conalty on your own, police stressed.

The release of the "most wanted" list follows a three-month intensive joint operation by the state police violent fugitive apprehension section and the Sex Offender Registry Board to locate unregistered sex offenders.

With this effort, dubbed "Operation Offender," the most serious offenders located were arrested, while lower risk offenders were immediately registered.

Nearly 750 offenders were arrested, registered, or otherwise determined to be deceased, incarcerated, or no longer living in Massachusetts.

The total number of unregistered sex offenders arrested, registered or found this year through the start of September now stands at 956, according to state police.

A wanted poster with photos of sex offenders is available at www.mass.gov/msp/wanted/sex-offenders/wanted-sexoffenders.htm.