NEWS - Thursday, January 5, 2006
Man Accused Of Molesting Boy He Met Through Live
A 26-year-old man was arrested on charges he molested a teenage boy he met through Microsoft Corp.’s popular Xbox Live online video game community, authorities said. Ronnie Brendan Watts, of Placerville, delayed entering a plea Wednesday to charges that include using the Internet to solicit a minor, said Donna Edwards, a spokeswoman for the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office. He is due back in court Jan. 20. Santa Rosa police arrested Watts on Dec. 15 after the 14-year-old boy revealed details of the alleged relationship to his mother. Detectives said Watts contacted the boy in October or November through the Xbox Live community, where players can battle online and speak to each other using headsets. Their conversations progressed to sending e-mails and Web cam videos, with Watts allegedly sending the boy obscene video clips of himself, authorities said. The teen eventually gave Watts his home address and telephone number and they met in a Santa Rosa park in November where the alleged physical abuse occurred. Police seized an Xbox console, a laptop computer and various cameras during a search of Watts’ home in Placerville, which is about 150 miles east of Santa Rosa. An affidavit did not detail the contents of the items seized. Watts remained free on bail. He did not immediately return a telephone call WednesdaySource: http://www.mercurynews.com/
