First local trial on sex registry violation

Bedford County has convicted its first defendant charged with violating the sex offender registry, but his attorney and family said jurors didn't hear the whole story or the end of his defense.

Jamie Roskom, 31, of County Line Road west of U.S. 231 North, is to be sentenced Dec. 16 by Circuit Court Judge Lee Russell, who revoked Roskom's $7,500 bond on a request from his bail bondsman.

Sex offenders must register with local law enforcement officers and report their address which is to be confirmed or updated annually. Not doing so can result in prison terms of 1-6 years. Roskom's prior convictions led prosecutors to request a range of 2-4 years. Because of sentencing guidelines set by state lawmakers, Roskom could be eligible for parole after serving 35 percent of his sentence.

Asked if there'd be an appeal, defense attorney Joe Brandon replied, "Absolutely."

Sheriff's Detective Lt. Chris Brown charged Roskom with failing to report in person to the sheriff's office during a two-week period around Roskom's March 20 birthday this year.

Roskom was in Wisconsin dealing with child custody issues during that time, according to statements in court and his mother and sister. Court records here show Roskom has three children, girls ages 13 and 2 and a 1-year-old son.

Emphasizing his opposition to sexual predators and his respect for the difficult job facing police, Roskom's lawyer argued that the state's law is vague and reports on Roskom's whereabouts were filed later than required by the law.

And, Brandon said, "For the jury to have a conviction today, they had to conclude that register and report mean the same thing.

"You are not here to second guess the legislature," Brandon told the jury, arguing his client was being tried on one part of the law, but had been charged with another.

The code section includes a list of ways the law can be violated and Brandon claimed his client's records had a date stamped in July when his reporting date was in March.

"Is that an oversight in the legal system," Brandon asked. "Probably, but is it something you should hold his feet to?"

The law Roskom faced in court concerns reporting during 14 days around an offender's birthday, but the law cited in the indictment doesn't mention that time frame, Brandon claimed.

Assistant District Attorney Mike Randles said Brandon was trying to make a distinction without a difference.

"He's been charged with failure to timely report," Randles said.

Roskom's signature on sheriff's records gives the inference that he knew what he was supposed to do and he made a decision about whether being in Wisconsin was more important.

Roskom's move back to his mother's home just south of Rutherford County came after the state law was changed to require local law enforcement officers to enforce the sex offender registry law. Previously, it was a record originated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Court records indicate Roskom moved back to Bedford County after living in Spring Hill, Fla. He was convicted in Wisconsin of second degree sexual assault of a child on Nov. 13, 1996.

"The girl was 16. He was 21," Roskom's mother, Janet Doney, said in the courthouse's second floor lobby as the judge charged the jury before it deliberated for less than an hour.

Records introduced for the trial show Roskom was 22 at the time of the 1996 sex assault.

"That ... child ... was a family friend," Doney said.

"The child went to his apartment and they didn't have sex," the mother continued. "He touched her, but they won't allow you to tell the jury that and this is virtually 10 years later.

"My daughter was pregnant at 15 and I didn't prosecute him," Doney said with her daughter, Denise Curtis, seated next to her.

Curtis also defended Roskom, saying her brother's victim called her months after that case in Wisconsin and said their liaison was consensual.

Consent is not an issue in child sex cases.

"If they were concerned about sex offenders you'd think they'd check them more and make sure they're in compliance," Curtis said.

The law, however, places the responsibility on the offender to report.

Doney said her son had paid his debt to society for his crimes.

Court records here show Roskom was convicted in Wisconsin during 1994 on three counts of burglary, and in 1996 for arson and escape. The latter charged was noted by Russell as reason to revoke bond, beyond the fact of Roskom's new conviction.

The judge told the jury Roskom's case was the first jury trial on a charge of violation of the sex offender registry in Bedford County.

In records filed prior to the trial, Randles wrote, "Defendant admitted he had failed to register in a timely fashion."