Independence, Missouri (The Weekly Vice) -- William Watkins, a 54 year old Independence man who dressed up as popular children's characters, pleads guilty to over a dozen child sex charges.
Watkins, who dressed up in costumes like the Grinch and Beetlejuice while entertaining at parties and Halloween season haunted houses, pleaded guilty to multiple child sex charges Monday.
Watkins was originally arrested back in December, 2007, when an 11-year old girl told police she was molested by Watkins. Watkins was charged with first-degree child molestation, possession of child pornography and five counts of first-degree statutory sodomy.
As a result of that investigation, police had reason to believe additional victims existed and continued to work the case. In the intervening time, 5 additional victims have come forward - some stating that no one believed them when they initially disclosed the abuse. As a result, additional charges were added in the case including three counts of first-degree statutory sodomy and five counts of first-degree child molestation.
Watkins pleaded Guilty to all charges and was sentenced Monday Oct. 6 to 30 years in prison.
The Weekly Vice Opinion:
We've been watching this case for awhile and know a little about a few of the victims. What is tragic about this case is that many of the victims lived in silence for year and years. Investigators believe Watkins began molesting children in 1982 and yet his many victims went unheard for years.
Many victims came forward, even from other states - providing their testimonies despite a possible statute of limitations concern. Several victims reported the abuse, but stated that no one believed them at the time.
So what is the moral of the story here? Apparently we still have a long way to go in our society if a victim spends years and even decades living with the horror of sexual abuse, partially because no one would listen to them when they tried to get help.
Simply inexcusable.
Danny Vice
The Weekly Vice
http://www.theweeklyvice.com
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Monday, October 6, 2008
William Watkins - Man Who Dressed Up As The Grinch And Beetlejuice Found Guilty Of Multiple Sex Charges
Posted by Danny Vice at 7:09 PM
Labels: abuse, arrested, beetlejuice, character, child, children, costume, dressed up, girl, girls, grinch, molestation, molested, mug shot, pedophile, sentenced, sex, sexual, william watkins
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2 comments:
partially because no one would listen to them when they tried to get help
It's amazing how these people are enabled. Be it intentionally or not. Hopefully,this stain will never know/live/see the outside of those prison walls.
im shocked hes been given 30 years. not that im complaining. its about time someone who hurts children gets a serious amount of time. i just think for he length of time and number of victims. it should be life.
people like this make me sick.
and besides how can any victim come forward anymore. when theres all of these people who havent been abused lieing about it. its insane. cause of those people we have to question everyone. even if that means making them re-tell their story hundreds of times to many people. its sad.
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