John Watts
Posted by Webmaster in Coaches, Hall of Shame, Health/Gym/PE, High Schools, Indiana
(10/10/07 – Initial BBT Report)
John Watts, 28, of Lexington, Indiana and a former track coach at both Austin High School and at Southwestern High School, in Scott County, Indiana will be going to trial on December 10th on 23 counts of sexual misconduct with a minor after a plea deal was rejected by the judge.
Watts in addition to coaching track also taught gym class and health at Southwestern High School.
Watts was a track coach for the the alleged victim Austin High School with whom police say Watts engaged in sexual conduct in several locations around Scott County from 2002 to 2004. At the start of the alleged sexual abuse the girl was 14-years-old and in addition to being her track coach, Watts was also her youth minister at church.
The prosecution and defense came to a plea agreement that would have allowed Watts to plead guilty to one count of sexual misconduct with a minor in exchange for a sentence of six years in prison with all suspended, probation for six years and one year of home confinement.
Under the plea agreement, Watts would have been required to seek a therapist approved by the Scott County Probation Department within 60 days, surrender his teaching license to the Indiana Department of Education and register as a sex offender.
In rejecting the plea deal, Judge Frank Newkirk Jr. set a pretrial hearing for 1 p.m. Thursday and scheduled trial for December 10th. If convicted, Watts faces up to 20 years in prison.
12/02/08 – Guilty Plea
Today John Watts agreed to plead guilty to two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor.
Watts will serve two years under home incarceration and four additional years on supervised probation.
Reportedly, Watts will be required to register as a sex offender.
Formal sentencing for Watts is set for December 29th.
References:
Sex abuse victim talks about ordeal (12/02/08)
Teacher’s plea bargain in misconduct case rejected (10/09/07)
Background:
Entries (RSS)