COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A plea agreement has been reached in a pair of Branch County Circuit Court cases filed against a Coldwater teen who was accused of alleged computer sex crimes involving minors and for alleged sexual assaults of a female juvenile.
18-year old Shane William Watson entered guilty pleas on Monday to charges of assault with intent to commit sexual penetration and to third degree criminal sexual conduct with the victim being between 13 and 15 years old.
In exchange for the guilty pleas, prosecutors will dismiss five other charges.
Sentencing in the two cases will be concurrent.
Watson indicated during a pretrial conference last week he would be willing to enter into a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Watson originally faced three charges, but four additional charges were filed by prosecutors after he allegedly had a sexual encounter with a 13-year-old girl from the original case while he was out on bond. The arrests came following Coldwater Police Department investigations.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 5, 2018.
