Sex offender released from jail after case of 'mistaken identity'

9-27-2011 Oregon:

UPDATE: Police released a Springfield man from jail Wednesday night after police say he was misidentified in a alleged sex offense case outside an area elementary School.

Police said Randy Tompkins is not the man an eyewitness had originally reported seeing talking to young girls outside of Riverbend Elementary School.

Tompkins is a registered sex offender and was arrested Friday after the eyewitness found Tompkins' picture in the state's predatory sex offender registry.

Tompkins was released from jail on Monday after the district attorney's office elected not to file new charges while police investigated the report further.

Springfield police told KVAL they thought his release was 'not in the public's best interest' and rearrested him.

Police said the original eyewitness called to report that the wrong man was in jail and that Tompkins was not the man she saw outside of the elementary school.

After further investigation police determined that the man reportedly talking to children was actually an athletics coach who frequently talks to children at the school.

Police released Tompkins Wednesday night. They said he will not face charges related to the initial complaint and that this case is one of mistaken identity.

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - A predatory sex offender arrested on suspicion of violating conditions of a sex abuse conviction has been released from jail after the district attorney's office elected not to file new charges against the man, according to police.

Police in Springfield arrested Randy Tompkins, 48, at his home on Friday after a concerned mother reported seeing him talking to children at Springfield Elementary School. The mother found the man in the state's predatory sex offender registry and called police.

Sgt. John Umenhofer said that Tompkins violated court orders stemming from past sex abuse convictions by talking to children. Tompkins, who abused both girls and boys, is not allowed to have contact with anyone under the age of 18, according to state records.

Police booked him into the Lane County Jail on an accusations of unlawful contact with a child and loitering in a place frequented by children.

Tompkins was released from Lane County Jail on Monday after prosecutors decided not to file formal charges, Umenhofer said.

The case remains an open investigation for the Springfield Police Department, he said. Umenhofer said parents should contact police if they see Tompkins around children in the future. ..Source.. by KVAL News