John Watkins Was Given A Second Chance But Fucked It Up By Watching Child Porn.

[China]

A Gilbert man whose 2003 rape conviction was overturned is now facing child pornography charges.

John Kenneth Watkins, 31, was arrested on Oct. 7 on ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, after admitting he had been looking at child pornography on his work computer,

[...]

Watkins was released from prison in 2010 after spending 7 1/2 years behind bars. He was accused of forcing the victim to the ground in a Gilbert neighborhood and sexually assaulting her.

"We strongly rejected this defendant's claim of innocence and opposed the bogus arguments that led to his release, knowing it was only a matter of time before he would re-offend,"

[...]

Watkins was arrested in June 2003 after the rape victim and a witness identified him in a photo lineup.

Watkins said he was the only person wearing a white T-shirt in the lineup where the victim identified him. Watkins said the victim had told police officers her attacker was wearing a white T-shirt.

[...]

He initially denied his involvement, then confessed and wrote a letter to the victim apologizing.

He pled guilty to one count of sexual assault and was sentenced to 14 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Watkins said he confessed to the rape after being interrogated for more than four hours by Gilbert police officers without an attorney present.

[...]

In 2010, with the assistance of the Arizona Justice Project, Watkins petitioned the court to perform DNA testing on evidence collected in the sexual assault case. While the results of the tests were inconclusive based on the State's theory of the case, other difficulties associated with a retrial led prosecutors to seek a dismissal of the charges, according to Cobb.

On Dec. 16, 2010, the court dismissed the case.

Watkins said he had faith DNA testing would clear his name, but fears questions about his innocence will always linger.

[...]

"The State does not believe John Watkins was falsely convicted," Cobb said in a statement after the case was dismissed.

"After initially denying the crime, Watkins failed both a voice stress analysis and a polygraph exam. He then confessed multiple times, including to the court during his original plea," Cobb said. "He also confessed to a nationally recognized expert (hired by the defense. Watkins' confession also included details of the crime that could only have been known by the assailant."

Watkins next court appearance on the child pornography charges is scheduled for Dec. 10.

http://www.kpho.com/story/14809117/exonerated-sex-offender-indicted-on-child-porn-charges

 

[JackBurton]

"inconclusive based on the State's theory of the case"

The fuck does this mean. Was there DNA or wasn't there.

ANyways, very clear he did it. Wonder what difficulties existed with a retrial. Victim not willing to participate again maybe? Weird stuff.

Anyways, good they got him.

 

[gatekeeper]

Sounds like the state's case was arguably marginal in the first place, but something about this guy really stinks to high heaven, too. Then again, it could just be the fact he's a friggin' filthy, little choad w/a hard on for kids that irks me to no end...

 

[CbabyRKO]

He needs to eat a bullet or two. Fucking prick will only reoffend once looking at kiddie porn doesnt do it for him anymore. Yucky piece of shit needs to just go away forever.

 

[DamagedGoods]

He initially denied his involvement, then confessed and wrote a letter to the victim apologizing.

He pled guilty to one count of sexual assault and was sentenced to 14 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Watkins said he confessed to the rape after being interrogated for more than four hours by Gilbert police officers without an attorney present.

OK, I can conceive of the cops coercing a confession... but the idea of them making the effort of coercing him into writing an apology to the victim just doesn't ring true for me. I'm not saying it's not possible... but somehow i doubt it. (And especially given his current predicament.)