PO sex offender caught with teenager

A convicted child rapist only lasted five months out of jail before being picked up for third-degree child molestation.

Johnathon Daniel Roswell, a 19-year-old Port Orchard resident, was arrested Aug. 6 for allegedly groping a 14-year-old girl. According to police witnesses, Roswell was found naked in a hot tub with a 14-year-old Port Orchard girl and a 13-year-old Port Orchard girl. As the officers watched, Roswell allegedly groped the equally naked 14-year-old’s chest.

He was arrested for third-degree child molestation and booked into Kitsap County Jail.

Port Orchard police officers stumbled onto the threesome while responding to a noise complaint at 1:30 a.m. at an apartment complex in the 1700 block of Sidney Avenue. The three, none of whom lived at the complex, had apparently snuck into the pool area and decided to go skinny-dipping. An empty gallon bottle of whisky was found at the edge of the tub.

The girls said they had met Roswell, whom they knew as “Tigger,” only a few weeks earlier. Neither knew he had served a year in jail for third-degree rape of a child and was a registered first-degree sex offender.

Both girls were released to their parents.

Roswell told the arresting officers he thought the girls were 16 and 14. If that was true, then it would be legal for Roswell to have consensual sexual contact with the older girl. However, Roswell is 51 months older than the 14-year-old girl he groped — three months over the 48-month allowable age difference.

Roswell was formally charged with third-degree child molestation the same day he was arrested. His bail was set at $20,000 — as of Monday morning, he had failed to post for his release.

His omnibus hearing is currently set for Aug. 27. His trial is scheduled for Sept. 29.

Kitsap County deputy prosecutor Jennifer Forbes, who is assigned to the case, said first-degree sex offenders are usually at the lowest risk to re-offend. However, if Roswell truly didn’t last even six months before targeting new victims, Forbes said his offender status may have to be changed.

“If he gets convicted, we’ll re-assess his level,” she said.

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