Registered sex offender in line to be next Jay city manager
The small town of Jay is set to appoint a convicted sex offender as its new town manager. Current Town Manager Eric Seib has been working part time since September and on July 3 will officially retire from the position.
April Watson, who was made operations manager by unanimous vote of the Jay Town Council on the same night Seib stepped back from full time duty, is scheduled to become the next town manager, according to Jay Mayor Shon Owens. Committing to the higher profile job opened the door to public scrutiny and the revelation that Watson pleaded no contest in 2010 to three charges of engaging in unlawful sexual activity with minors and is a registered Florida sex offender.
Owens confirmed he was aware of Watson’s status and the crimes committed “a long, long, long time ago.” “I’m not familiar with details of the case against her,” Owens said. “I do know that she’s the right person for the job. There is a great deal of confidence within the community in her ability to do the job.”
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My offense dates back to 1997 and had adjudication of guilt withheld. I stopped looking for a “normal” job decades ago. I source scrap metal for a living and don’t feel safe in my neighborhood and avoid going outside as much as possible. Every year, the Florida state legislature hits me with even more punitive sanctions. There ain’t no long, long, long time ago about my situation. Everything feels raw and unemding in my world. I’m glad somebody is moving on with their life somewhere. I’m literally mapping out my survival strategy for life after 7/1/26 when SB 212 kicks in. My wife and I have both enough. Surviving in Florida has taken a real toll on is both. Nothing is ever good enough here.
If the town council doesn’t cave to community pressure, good for April Watson.
However, the circumstances and article point to the double standard we have in the U.S. about boys having sex with adult women and the seemingly lighter sentences — I only have anecdotal evidence — the state dishes for contact crimes over possession of child sexual abuse materials.
Note in the article how the 17-year-old males are referred to as young men, instead of boys. The reporter also provided Watson’s excuse for why it happened.
Sex with children is wrong. But the bias exists and I don’t understand the logic of contact vs. non-contact.
Still, Ms. Watson was able to transition to a meaningful, professional job, and I hope she continues to get the unanimous support of the town council.
She is just another person who made an egregious error in judgment and she’s paid her dues to society.
What she did is legal in most states if she wasn’t a teacher, and the AOC is still 16 in most US states.
I applaud her recovery. Her work ethic.
She is kicking open the door.
Humans make mistakes. Forgiveness and redemption she sought.
She showed willingness to change and move on.
Same for many others and myself.
I support her employment and employer.
I bet her chance of recidivism is 0%
The registry should be abolished. Like slavery was abolished.
Public shaming is a crime.
This is a great opportunity to flood the zone with support for this woman. She paid her debt to society and wants to contribute to her community.
Therefore Owens is likely to remove Watson because of blowback from Watson’s past misconduct? So much for the USA being the land of liberty!!!
What gives you the indication that’s happening?
I have been screaming this forever and a day. the only way we will get change is to put people in position that understand our situation. since its very difficult to find a real job in most cases why not run for office?
with a slight chance of winning if you do you can help the world understand what we go through on a daily basis. the more that get elected soon being on the registry will be normalized
better than sitting at home collecting welfare
Interesting thought. After all, even if you lose an election at least you’ve helped to start some conversations.
This whole registry scheme needs to be exposed to the light of day; for it stinks to high heaven!!