Apr 23, 2009 10:04 am US/Eastern
School Officer Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Teen
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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A Baltimore City school officer is facing serious charges. Reginald Watson is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old student.
CBS
A Baltimore City school officer is facing serious charges. He's accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old student.
Mary Bubala reports on how the Brooklyn community is reacting.
Reginald Watson, 35, lives in a North Baltimore apartment complex near a city high school. He's been charged with sexual child abuse and assaulting a 16-year-old student at the Masonville Cove Middle School, formerly the Benjamin Franklin School. The allegation is that he touched the female student over her clothes in February.
The charges are more serious because of his position as an officer at the school. That's why he was indicted by a grand jury--it's secret from the public.
Several students say off-camera they've known about this for several weeks, calling it a love affair between a ninth grade girl and the officer. They say Officer Watson has been out of school for about a month.
"I'm shocked. I can't believe that. I'm sorry, I can't believe that," said parent Katina Evans.
"That doesn't make no sense," said parent Marcus Henderson.
"This law enforcement officer at one time, the allegations show that he had the care and custody of this particular victim," said Marty Burns, City State's Attorney's Office.
"I knew him but I didn't know him. I've seen him, but, you know, you can't think of what people will do. People will do what they want to do, I guess," Evans said.
Watson had a pre-set bail of $50,000. He posted it and was released Wednesday night.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
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