Jay Operations Manager April Watson has been suspended with pay by the city as officials seek answers to why Watson, a convicted sex offender, was arrested July 20.
“At this time , the town has limited information about the charges against Ms. Watson or any of the facts and circumstances which led to this arrest,” the town said in a statement released by City Clerk Donna Bullock.
Late in the day July 21, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office released charging documents in the case. An incident report states Watson violated her sex offender registration requirements by staying at Splash RV Park in East Milton for a week between May 29 and June 5 without declaring it as a temporary address.
The charge was failure to register as required a temporary address.
The arrest report states that during an interview at the time of arrest “other violations were addressed and rectified the same day.”
It also stated that she had registered as required approximately 75 times since her release from prison in 2010.
In early July Watson was in line to succeed retiring Eric Seib and step into the role of Jay Town Manager, the municipality’s highest staff position. The town voted to table the promotion indefinitely after news of her sexual offender status was publicly reported.
Watson served 12 months in prison for having sex with 17-year-old Jay High School students while employed as a teacher at the school.
Watson and a fellow teacher employed by Jay High School were arrested by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 6, 2009, for engaging in sexual intercourse with male students. Consensual sexual encounters, which involved three teens, occurred on an occasional basis over a four-month period, between July 1 and Oct. 31 of 2007, court records show.
The paid suspension was handed down at the City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting. Jay City Attorney Steve Cozart said he brought the arrest to the attention of board members as it had occurred the morning of the same day the meeting was held.
The issue of suspending Watson “wasn’t on the agenda so I brought it up,” he said.
“This is pretty much what we do with any employee in a situation like this, we suspend with pay,” Cozart said.
In its release the town said it is working to gather information about the arrest. Cozart said he had not been able to review the charging documents.
“The town of Jay owes it to all involved to act deliberately with full knowledge of the facts and with fairness towards all,” the release said. “The town will make a decision on how to proceed based on a thorough review of all the facts and circumstances. After a review is completed, the council will determine what additional actions are needed.”
Watson’s most recent arrest occurred during what Bridgette Jensen, the chief assistant state attorney for the First Judicial Circuit, described as a routine round up of sexual offenders who have violated registration requirements.
Jail View, a website kept by the Sheriff’s Office, indicated that as of the afternoon of July 21 a bond of $2,500 had been set in Watson’s case.
Barry Berosett, who served as Watson’s defense attorney following her arrest for having sexual relations with minors, did not recall what registration requirements were established by the state upon her release from prison. A review of court records did not turn up any specific sexual offender reporter guidelines laid out for Watson, and the Florida Sex Offender Registry did not list specific guidelines either.
A website created by attorney Robert B. Fisher said that most people registered by the state of Florida as sexual offenders are required to report their status yearly, though in some cases offenders are required to report twice annually or even quarterly.
“Failure to register or update information is a third degree felony carrying serious penalties including additional prison time and extended registration periods,” the website said.
Changes in permanent residence or vehicle ownership must be reported within 48 hours, the website said. Temporary stays like the one Watson failed to report are also on the list of requirements for sexual offenders.
There are also provisions in state statute, particularly in cases where minors are impacted, wherein sexual offenders cannot reside within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, playgrounds and day cares, according to the webiste. Also, changes in places of employment or termination of existing employment must be reported.
Unlike those listed as sexual predators who are so designated for life, sexual offenders can be eligible to be removed from that status, in some cases, after 25 years. The Robert B. Fisher website said an arrest for failing to report can end any hope an offender might have of being removed from the state rolls.
Tom McLaughlin covers Santa Rosa County, environmental stories, development and investigative reporting.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: RV Park stay gets Jay employee April Watson arrest and job suspension
Reporting by Tom McLaughlin, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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By Tom McLaughlin, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
