“Child molester.”
Those were the last words William Ray Watkins heard shouted at him Monday as correctional officers led him out of a Jackson County courtroom.
Watkins pleaded guilty to 13 counts of child molestation and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Jackson County Circuit Judge Stephen Nixon sentenced Watkins to 30 years for four counts of first-degree statutory sodomy against four victims; 15 years for three counts of first-degree child molestation against three other victims; and six counts of sexual abuse against three other victims.
Nixon ordered the sentences run concurrently, meaning Watkins will serve 30 years. Watkins agreed to that length of time based on the plea agreement.
Watkins, 54, must serve 25 1/2 years before he’s eligible for parole.
The molestation dates back to the late 1980s and early 1990s. And authorities have said his history of lewd conduct dates back to 1982.
Prosecutors originally charged the Independence man with sex crimes involving three children, all under the age of 12 years old, last December.
But Independence police reached out to the public after learning that Watkins played the role of Beetlejuice at The Beast haunted house in Kansas City for nearly a decade. Also, he played The Grinch and other characters at various functions.
Police released a list of known addresses of residence and employment of Watkins in Independence since 1987.
Some of the victims came forward, but some of his crimes couldn’t be charged because the statute of limitations had expired. Prosecutors ended up charging Watkins with 10 additional charges, making a total of 13 counts.
The mother of one of the victims said Watkins preyed on the innocent and then took that innocence away.
“Why can’t they take his innocence away?” she asked Nixon.
Watkins owned and operated a barber shop called Prime Cuts in the early 1990s and 2004 in Independence. That’s how Watkins met the woman’s daughter after her ex-husband’s girlfriend took the daughter to Prime Cuts to get a hair cut.
Occasionally, Watkins had parties for children and had a costume shop downstairs at the barber shop, family members of the victims said.
“These kids (victims) are wonder girls but they’re living with a demon inside of them because of this,” a woman told the court. She told The Examiner after the hearing that she didn’t want to be identified. “Their self-esteem and self-image are gone. They want to feel beautiful again inside but can’t.”
Watkins apologized to the victims and their families and his family.
“I need treatment,” Watkins told Nixon.
“Oh, please,” one woman shouted at him.
“Whatever,” another yelled. “You’re going to get what you deserve.”
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“Child molester.”
Those were the last words William Ray Watkins heard shouted at him Monday as correctional officers led him out of a Jackson County courtroom.
Watkins pleaded guilty to 13 counts of child molestation and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Jackson County Circuit Judge Stephen Nixon sentenced Watkins to 30 years for four counts of first-degree statutory sodomy against four victims; 15 years for three counts of first-degree child molestation against three other victims; and six counts of sexual abuse against three other victims.
Nixon ordered the sentences run concurrently, meaning Watkins will serve 30 years. Watkins agreed to that length of time based on the plea agreement.
Watkins, 54, must serve 25 1/2 years before he’s eligible for parole.
The molestation dates back to the late 1980s and early 1990s. And authorities have said his history of lewd conduct dates back to 1982.
Prosecutors originally charged the Independence man with sex crimes involving three children, all under the age of 12 years old, last December.
But Independence police reached out to the public after learning that Watkins played the role of Beetlejuice at The Beast haunted house in Kansas City for nearly a decade. Also, he played The Grinch and other characters at various functions.
Police released a list of known addresses of residence and employment of Watkins in Independence since 1987.
Some of the victims came forward, but some of his crimes couldn’t be charged because the statute of limitations had expired. Prosecutors ended up charging Watkins with 10 additional charges, making a total of 13 counts.
The mother of one of the victims said Watkins preyed on the innocent and then took that innocence away.
“Why can’t they take his innocence away?” she asked Nixon.
Watkins owned and operated a barber shop called Prime Cuts in the early 1990s and 2004 in Independence. That’s how Watkins met the woman’s daughter after her ex-husband’s girlfriend took the daughter to Prime Cuts to get a hair cut.
Occasionally, Watkins had parties for children and had a costume shop downstairs at the barber shop, family members of the victims said.
“These kids (victims) are wonder girls but they’re living with a demon inside of them because of this,” a woman told the court. She told The Examiner after the hearing that she didn’t want to be identified. “Their self-esteem and self-image are gone. They want to feel beautiful again inside but can’t.”
Watkins apologized to the victims and their families and his family.
“I need treatment,” Watkins told Nixon.
“Oh, please,” one woman shouted at him.
“Whatever,” another yelled. “You’re going to get what you deserve.”
