SCHOOL TEACHER ARRESTED FOR DISTRIBUTING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Raymond “Robin” Watts Distributed Child Pornography
to an Undercover Law Enforcement Officer
ROME, GA--RAYMOND “ROBIN” WATTS, 55, of Kingston, Georgia, has made an initial appearance in court today after being arrested pursuant to a federal criminal complaint, charging WATTS with the distribution and possession of child pornography. WATTS is a teacher at Mill Creek Middle School in Woodstock, Georgia. WATTS is scheduled to have his arraignment and bond hearing before a United States Magistrate Judge on Tuesday, March 1, 2011, at 2:30 p.m.
United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “The children in our community must be protected from those who would victimize them in child pornography. Although all child pornography cases are tragic because of their victims, this case was even more troubling because the defendant taught in a middle school where he had daily interaction with children. Our investigation into this matter is ongoing and we would encourage anyone with information to contact ICE or their local police.”
“The sexual exploitation of children is a despicable crime, and it is especially alarming when it is perpetrated by someone in a position of trust,” said Brock Nicholson, Acting Special Agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Atlanta. “Identifying and investigating those who victimize innocent children is one of our most important responsibilities.”
According to United States Attorney Yates and the information contained in public documents: During the course of an ongoing child pornography investigation, law enforcement discovered that WATTS might possess sexually explicit images of children, in particular, minor boys. In early 2011, an undercover law enforcement agent made contact with WATTS, which led to in-person meetings between WATTS and the undercover agent. During one of their meetings, WATTS provided numerous images of child pornography to the agent. After a search warrant was executed, WATTS was found to have hundreds of sexually explicit images of children on his home computer.
((NEWS MEDIA NOTE: A copy of the Criminal Complaint and search warrant filed in this case is available upon request.)
Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by Special Agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Assistant United States Attorney Jill E. Steinberg is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact Sally Quillian Yates, United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.
