SPRINGFIELD — An 18-year-old who pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition involving a victim younger than 13 was sentenced today to three years in prison.
Brandon Watkins, 18, sexually assaulted a girl at a Clark County church function affiliated with North Hampton Community Church, the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Our first look at Brandon Watkins come as he’s about to be sentenced for gross sexual imposition. Watkins has been visibly emotional, sobbing at times. Judge O’Neill says he has not found genuine remorse. Sentence coming soon. @whiotv @WHIORadio @springfieldnews pic.twitter.com/05cwBKeDLN
— Jenna Lawson WHIO (@JLawsonWHIO) August 20, 2019
Watkins was labeled as a Tier II sexual offender, meaning he’ll have to register his address with the local sheriff’s office every 180 days for the next 25 years.
>> Teen convicted of sex crime that occurred at church function in Clark County
Watkins was a student in the Northeastern Local School District and the Springfield Clark County Career Technology Center. The prosecutor’s office said Watkins was enrolled in the early childhood education program at the CTC.
Both schools declined to comment on the case because of student privacy laws.