James Larkey Wilkerson filed a paternity petition to prove in court he is the biological father of Miranda Wilkerson, the 4-year-old girl formerly of Glen St. Mary, who is living with a registered sex offender in St. George, GA.

Circuit Judge Phyllis Rosier granted the sex offender, Donald Ray Coleman, custody of Miranda Wilkerson last month following a custody battle between the girl's paternal grandmother, Rita Manning, and Mr. Coleman.

He was married to Miranda's late mother, Trista Coleman, at the time of her death in August 2007. Under Florida law, that makes him the girl's legal parent.

Trista Coleman died in a car accident on her way to work at Lake City Medical Center.

Like Ms. Manning and Mr. Coleman, James Larkey Wilkerson has a criminal history.

Baker County court records show he's been found guilty of misdemeanor battery as recently as 2008, driving on a suspended or revoked license in 2009, resisting a law enforcement officer in 2008, DUI in 2005 and disorderly intoxication in 1991, among other crimes.

The paternity petition his attorney filed with the court August 2 is the first step in seeking custody of his daughter.

See previous coverage of this story from The Baker County Press here.