Michigan Attorney General Arrests Grand Rapids-Area Convicted Child Sex Offender

Attorney General Mike Cox announced today the arrest of a convicted child sexual offender from Belding for using the Internet to commit child sexual abuse.

"Today's arrest highlights just how dangerous child sexual predators are and how important it is to get them off the street," said Cox. "Since 2003, my office has charged 76 sexual predators and pornographers who were looking to harm children through use of the Internet. We will continue to prosecute them to keep Michigan's children safe."

Attorney General investigators arrested Belding resident Timothy Rosell Westbrook, 47, in Novi Thursday. He was arraigned Friday in Novi's 52-1 District Court before Judge Michael Batchik on two counts of Child Sexually Abusive Activity, and two counts of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, both 20-year felonies. Westbrook was also charged as a Habitual Offender and faces up to 40 years in prison as a result of being convicted in 1989 and 1992 of Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree with a person under 13 years of age. According to the Michigan Department of Corrections, Westbrook was sentenced to 7-15 years in prison in 1992 for a conviction out of Kent County and was discharged in 2000. Judge Batchik set Westbrook's bond at $400,000 cash and he will be back in court October 26 at 9:15 a.m. for a pre-exam conference.

Cox alleges in the complaint that between January 10, 2005 and October 20, 2005, Westbrook used the Internet to contact what he believed was a 14-year old girl to arrange a sexual encounter. Westbrook traveled from Belding to Novi to meet the online persona and was arrested. A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Since 2003, Cox's Child and Public Protection Unit has arrested 76 Internet child sexual predators and pornographers. Attorney General Cox encourages parents to visit http://www.michigan.gov/ag for tips on safe Internet usage for children. Citizens can also report suspected Internet child predators via the Report Internet Abuses Against Children link, or by calling the Child and Public Protection Unit at (313) 456-0180.

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