Hearing set for man accused of sexually abusing minor

A hearing is scheduled Monday for Edward C. Watts, who will be tried in Pinal Superior Court on charges of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child and Sexual Exploitation of a minor.

According to police documents, the victim had disclosed to her mother that she had been abused by Watts for an extended period of time.

Through their investigation, which included interviews with the victim, the Maricopa Police Department concluded that Watts had sexually abused the minor and took pictures of the incidents with his cellphone and that the abuse had gone on for 2-3 years.

In police documents, the victim’s mother reported the alleged abuse to police on Sept. 24, 2021. Watts was arrested on Sept. 29, 2021, where he was taken to the Pinal County Jail.

According to a probable cause statement, Watts, after being advised of his Miranda rights, admitted to helping the victim with a vaginal irritation that required a special lotion to treat and that he took pictures of her before and after treatment.

Police say that, in the same confession, Watts admitted to taking pictures of the victim while she was in the bath. He also shared that he sleeps naked and that she would get in the bed with him and would inadvertently touch his penis. He also admitted to an instance where he placed his erect penis in the victim’s hand. Watts denied ever having intercourse with the victim.

Watts was released on a $250,000 bond on Oct. 21.