Man arrested for registry violation
Published 12:16 pm Monday, October 23, 2017
An Arkansas man was arrested in Middlesboro last week as the result of a complaint from a business.
According to a report from WRIL, Middlesboro Police Officer Michael Smith responded to a complaint from the staff at Days Inn on Cumberland Avenue Oct. 19.
The citation states that once on the scene, Smith made contact with Roman Ice Blackheart, 35, of Ratliff, Arkansas. Blackheart stated that he was a registered sex offender and was in the area in a pass from Arkansas.
Smith asked to look through Blackheart’s phone and after Blackheart entered the passcode it was discovered he had accounts for Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Smith contacted the Logan County, Arkansas, Sheriff’s Department and asked if Blackheart was permitted to have social media accounts.
The report states that as a part of registered sex offender protocol in Arkansas and Kentucky, offenders are not permitted the use of social media. Deputy Tyler Porter of the LCSD confirmed it was not permitted and further stated that Blackheart was to be taken into custody for violating the terms of the sex offender registration.
According to the Arkansas Crime Information Center, “Roman Ice Blackheart” is an alias for Joshua Daniel Shea. Shea is listed on the state’s sex offender registry for a conviction on the offense of first-degree sexual abuse. He is listed as a “Level 3 Offender – High Risk.”
Blackheart was lodged in the Bell County Detention Center and charged as a fugitive – warrant not required. He was still in custody locally as of Oct. 23.