A Mexico man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for four felony sex crimes involving two female victims that occurred in Mexico in May and October 2020.
Demontrez Watson, 20, of Mexico, was sentenced in Audrain County on Friday after he pleaded guilty to first-degree rape, second-degree rape and two counts of second-degree sodomy, according to a news release issued by Jacob Shellabarger.
“Although Demontrez Watson took responsibility for his actions through today’s plea, his 10-year prison sentence for these crimes will not erase or completely heal the effects on the survivors, families, and this community.” Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Shelby Park said in the release. “These young women spoke powerfully about the harmful effect his predatory, violent actions had on each of them and our community. As they heal, grow and build lives after this trauma, they know the truth mattered, and eventually Watson admitted what he had done.”
The charges stem from two incidents in 2020 when Watson was a minor. According to Shellabarger, Watson forced the first victim to have sex with him in May and raped and sodomized the second victim in October, when he was 15-years-old at the time.
“Rape, sodomy and sexual assault crimes always happen on purpose,” Shellabarger said. “Criminals use power to get what they want, and sexual assault uses power and control for the criminal’s own gratification. Most sexual assault victims know and trust the people who committed those crimes against them. In this case, Demontrez Watson took advantage of young women he knew, got them alone, and got what he wanted: through force, intimidation, pressure and lack of consent.”
Shellabarger also commended the Mexico Public Safety Department’s investigation.
“The Mexico Public Safety Department handled this case with professionalism and a meticulous and thorough investigation so these survivors didn’t have to tell their stories alone,” Shellabarger said. “MPSD’s officers found evidence supporting the charges, and Watson’s plea of guilty for these crimes is a testament to their hard work, training and dedication. After hundreds of hours of research, investigation, interviews and police work by MPSD, Demontrez Watson admitted he committed these crimes. These victims trusted our community’s officers, and our city should be proud of how each officer working this crime did so with determination and dedication to collecting evidence of the truth of these actions.”
