Court date set for convicted sex offender accused of failure to register

NEWKIRK — A status docket is set for Troy Edward Roberts, 42, Newkirk, in Kay County District Court.

Roberts was charged on May 6 with a felony count of failure to register as a sex offender after a felony conviction.

Roberts was ordered to register as a sex offender in 2017 after he was convicted of lewd molestation and forcible sodomy. In that case the victim was a minor. He was given a 15-year deferred prison sentence.

Deputy Larry Burtner reports in the affidavit that on Nov. 14, 2019, Roberts registered that he was living at 8575 N. Highway 177 in Newkirk.  Records show that the address does not exist.

Deputies went to a nearby residence and was pointed in the direction of a trailer with a recently placed mailbox listing the address as 8576. They located a water cooler with Roberts’ name on it.

While searching for Roberts, KSO received a call requesting a welfare check on a female at Roberts’ previous address. Deputies made contact with a relative of the female and learned that Roberts was staying at the Guest Inn in Ponca City.

Roberts and the female were located. The female advised deputies they had been staying at the hotel for a few days and would be staying there a few more. Roberts was later charged with failure to register as a sex offender.

This is the second time he has been charged with the offense.

In 2018, Roberts was charged with four felonies including failure to register, sex offender living near a school, and sex offender residing with a minor. The fourth charge was dismissed.

On Aug. 17, 2018, he entered a no contest plea to the charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, all suspended.

On the latest charge, Roberts was jailed on May 8. On May 20, Judge David Wilkie agreed to grant Roberts an own recognizance bond on the condition that he register within 24 hours of release and make contact with D.A. supervision. Roberts is free on bond.