It’s a parent’s worst nightmare, a child being arrested for a crime and that feeling in your heart that they are innocent. This is what the parents of Timothy Romano are feeling and going through right now.
Romano was arrested in November on child abuse allegations. His wife Amanda Romano, and roommate Tyler Barney were also arrested. The focus of the investigation settled on Amanda Romano, who has since pleaded guilty to several felonies and is currently incarcerated on two 10-life sentences in the Utah State Prison. Barney has chosen to go to trial in May.
Timothy Romano was assigned Sam Chiara as his public defender. He pleaded no contest to two counts of sexual battery in March. He was given a 0-five year term on both counts.
Romano’s parents, Patricia and Jim Monosso, are convinced their son did not do the things for which he was charged. They spent time with him often and the child he was accused of offending, and felt like if there were issues they would have known.
“I saw a normal five year old.” Patricia Monosso said. “I look at how [the child] acted and it was no different than my friend’s grandkids.”
When asked what they hoped the outcome of a story in the press would be, they both stated it was to express that Romano was not the horrible person he has been portrayed to be. They also believe he was sentenced on his perceived failure to protect the child and not the “sexual stuff” for which he was charged.
“We just want answers as parents,” Patricia Monosso said. “We don’t know what else to do.”
The Monosso’s have been collecting any documents related to their son’s case and feel they have proof of his innocence. Timothy Romano wrote a five-page letter in which he stated over and over again that he did not do any of the things they said he did, and that he trusted Chiara and did what he was told to do.
Carbon County Attorney Jeremy Humes said this was a difficult case from every angle and he can truly appreciate the concerns and frustrations of the family. Humes said understands what they are going through, but the case was prosecuted on the facts they had and based on what they thought they could prove in court.
“The judge sentenced him different from what the recommendations were,” he said. “That happens almost every day. But the judge has the right to do that based on what he knows about the case. The judge advised him (Romano) of that before sentencing.”
Chiara would not directly comment on Romanos’ parent’s reponse to the case, but did say that due to the serious allegations Romano was facing, he gave this case more attention than most of his other cases.
“I spent significant time with him personally discussing his case and options and talking to witnesses and the prosecution. I gave the case special attention and it is unfortunate that it was not what he expected. The family is trying to deal with that now, but I did the very best I could for him.
“The most difficult thing about a case like this is the fact that not just the accused is affected. When we are accused in our society today there are costs to reputation, cost to hire attorneys and other financial drains including losing your job and other things. It happens the minute you are accused whether you are guilty or not. I am not speaking to the guilt or innocence in this case.“
Chiara concluded by saying, “the family is experiencing some of the bad, and I feel for what they are going through as they come to terms with the outcome.”
Patricia and Jim Monosso are looking for a new lawyer to take their son’s case and understand they face an uphill battle.