Sentencing delayed in Palatine sex assault

Sentencing has been delayed until Oct. 26 for a Rockford man convicted of committing predatory criminal sexual assault in Palatine.

Because of his history, Ronnie Watts, 48, faces life in prison. He was convicted of a 1987 sex crime and sentenced to 10 years. He also has a sexual assault case pending out of Winnebago County involving a young girl.

Today, Cook County Judge Thomas Fecarotta denied a motion by Watts' attorney for a new trial and to reconsider the guilty finding.

Among other points, Watts' attorney questioned the credibility of the now 17-year-old girl who testified Watts molested her in his Palatine apartment in 1998, when she was 8 years old.

But the judge said the victim's demeanor, testimony, identification and specificity made her "incredibly credible."

Though he denied all 15 points of the defense's motion, Fecarotta said he didn't want to rush sentencing and delayed the decision.

Watts' attorney argued a sentence of natural life in prison would be "cruel and degrading," a notion Fecarotta said he didn't accept.