Sex offender never planned to register

St. Augustine Beach Police reported to local Historic City News crime patrol reporters that they have discovered a man living at the beach who is a convicted sex offender in Tenneessee — but, they took him into custody when the also found out that he had not registered with Florida authorities after arriving here.

Police arrested 30 year-old James Franklin Roberts at his residence located at 208 Ninth Street in St. Augustine Beach yesterday afternoon while responding to a call at his address.

While questioning Roberts, officers learned he was a convicted sex offender and that he had been living on Ninth Street in St. Augustine Beach without first completing the required registration.

According to Police Chief Richard Hedges, Roberts “never planned on registering in the state of Florida.”

Roberts is in custody at the St. Johns County Detention Facility in lieu of $10000 bond; failing to register as a sex offender is a third degree felony in Florida.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph by SJSO