Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox Announces Conviction of Grand Rapids-Area Habitual Child Sex Offender.

LANSING, Mich., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced the third conviction of habitual sexual predator, Timothy Rosell Westbrook, who was found guilty by an Oakland County jury for using the Internet to commit child sexual abuse.

"Today justice has been done. This conviction 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 more than 80 sexual predators and pornographers who were looking to harm our children. We will continue to hunt these criminals down and prosecute them to keep Michigan's children safe."

Attorney General investigators arrested Belding resident Timothy Rosell Westbrook, 47, in Novi October 20, 2005. 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. In Novi's 52-1 Judicial Court, Westbrook was found guilty of two counts of Child Sexually Abusive Activity, and two counts of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, both 20-year felonies. He was sentenced to 8-40 years in prison as a habitual 3rd offender and must pay a $60 Crime Victims' Rights fee, $240 in state costs and must provide a DNA sample for the national registry as well as register as a Sexual Offender.

Westbrook was charged as a Habitual Offender due to convictions in 1989 and 1992 of Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree with a person under 13 years of age. He was sentenced to 7-15 years in prison for the 1992 conviction out of Kent County and was discharged in 2000.

Since 2003, Cox's Child and Public Protection Unit has arrested 80 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.

First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact:

CONTACT: Rusty Hills of Michigan Attorney General's Office, +1-517-373-8060

Web site: http://www.michigan.gov/ag