Man who molested Palatine girl gets 25 years
A convicted child molester was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison for the 1998 abuse of an 8-year-old girl in Palatine.
Ronnie Watts, 49, of Rockford, must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence, a little more than 21 years, before he is eligible for release. He will be credited for 221 days already served behind bars.
In delivering the sentence, Cook County Judge Thomas Fecarotta Jr. called Watts a "a parent's worst nightmare."
"I think he is a danger to children. I think he is a true predator," the judge said. "If you look up predatory criminal offender, his picture is there."
Watts was convicted of two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault Aug. 21 after his accuser, now a teenager, testified she was undressed and molested in his Palatine apartment.
Prosecutors had sought a life sentence for Watts, who pleaded guilty in 1988 to a sex crime involving a young girl and who also is charged in Winnebago County with molesting another girl.
But Fecarotta said he wasn't certain Watts' previous conviction met statutory criteria for life in prison. He also said he couldn't take into consideration the pending Winnebago County case.
Assistant State's Attorney Michael Gerber declined to comment on the sentence, other than to say, "The judge made his decision, and that's it. (Watts) deserves to be in a state penitentiary and away from children."
In the 1998 crime, prosecutors said Watts had been baby-sitting the girl and her brother when he took the girl into his bedroom to watch a movie. While on the bed, the girl testified, he removed her clothes and molested her.
The girl said she was afraid to tell of the crime until this year, at the urging of a friend.
On Friday, Watts' wife and mother maintained his innocence, suggesting the girl's story was concocted.
As for the sentence, Fern Watts of Rockford, Watts' mother, said the difference between 25 years and life in prison wouldn't matter much because her son's health is failing.
"Twenty-five years will be his life," she said.