Former Glenrock cop loses appeal of rape conviction

[TransitJohn]

By JOAN BARRON
Star-Tribune capital bureau Wednesday, December 08, 2004

CHEYENNE -- James Charles Watters claimed his sexual relationship with his foster daughter, who suffers from severe mental and developmental disabilities, was a loving, consensual one.

But the state argued that Watters, a former Glenrock police officer, used his position of authority over the victim as her foster father and guardian to exploit her for sexual gratification.

A Natrona County District Court jury agreed with the state and convicted Watters of first-degree sexual assault. District Court Judge W. Thomas Sullins sentenced Watters to 24 to 34 years in the state penitentiary.

In a unanimous decision, the Wyoming Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the conviction and sentence.

Recounting details of the case, the court opinion written by Chief Justice William Hill said the victim, identified only as TD, was nine or 10 years old when she went to live with a foster family, the Watters, in Glenrock.

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http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2004/12/08/news/casper/5587efaceb40d35b87256f6400081ff4.txt

[Blue_Tires]

1. wonder whose 'values' he vote for in the election?

[shadu]

2. Do they put cops in with the general prison population?

[Samoflange]

3. Having worked in a jail...

I noticed two things: the child molesters always had to be separated from the general population, lest they end up with a shank in their chest; and cops, especially local ones, are not welcome at all.

It's the whole 'honor among thieves" thing; the meth convicts are seen as "victims" of the system, while child molesters and child murderers are lucky if they survive the first night....