A Clinton man has been charged with one count of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16 after the victim’s aunt reported him to the Clinton Police Department.
Eric Mourice Watson, Jr., 24 of Clinton, is facing 3 years to 20 years of federal imprisonment for “knowingly and intentionally touching the body of [redacted] in a lewd or lascivious manner” and “acted against public decency and morality by kissing and touching the body of [redacted] while they were 14 years old,” according to the information sheet filed with the Custer County District Court.
A warrant for Watson’s arrest with a bond of $20,000 was issued Tuesday. As a condition of the bond, Watson is to have no contact with the victim. However, an arrested has not been made as of press time Friday, according to court documents.
July 21, Detective Capt. Ray Hammans met with the victim’s aunt, who allegedly said she received information the victim was having a sexual relationship with Watson. The victim’s aunt said she allegedly confronted the victim about the relationship and they allegedly confirmed the relationship, according to the affidavit.
The victim’s aunt also said she allegedly found a cell phone in the victim’s possession and found numerous videos on the phone showing the victim in bed with Watson. The videos allegedly were taken at the aunt’s home in Clinton. Capt. Hammans reviewed the videos and confirmed the male was Watson and was lying in bed with the victim, according to the affidavit.
August 4, Maria Rosales-Lambert conducted a forensic interview with the victim, where they disclosed beginning a sexual relationship with Watson while the victim was 13 years old. It was then they allegedly met Watson while living in an apartment in Clinton during the summer between 7th and 8th grade, according to the affidavit.
The victim alleged said she allegedly had sexual intercourse with Watson and described the acts to Rosales-Lanbert. They said the most recent event took place at her current home in Clinton and described those events to the investigator, according to the affidavit.
During the forensic interview, the victim allegedly expressed concern Watson was going to be in trouble and he would never do anything the victim did not want. The victim allegedly said they would ask Watson to stop many times and he would. The victim also allegedly said the victim and Watson had sex “numerous” times in the last year, according to the affidavit.
Watson was arrested on an unrelated Custer County warrant and booked into the Clinton City Jail. Capt. Hammans had an interview with Watson. After reading him his Miranda warning, Watson allegedly said he understood his rights and agreed to answer questions. Watson allegedly denied having sex with the victim but admitted they kissed the victim on the lips. Watson also allegedly confirmed it was him lying in bed with the victim in their home, according to the affidavit.
Watson has been convicted of three other felonies in Custer County District Court. However, they are quite different in nature.
May 4, 2017, Watson was convicted in two 2015 cases of knowingly concealing stolen property. Watson was sentenced to serve 5 years in the custody and control of the Oklahoma Department of Correction by going into a delayed sentence program, according to court records.
November 9, 2017, Watson was convicted on another charge or knowingly concealing stolen property and sentenced to 10 years in the custody and control of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections with all except the first 5 years suspended, according to court records.