View Comments
Curtis Watson, the West Tennessee man charged with killing Tennessee Department of Correction administrator Deborah Johnson and escaping prison in August 2019, will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to nine out of his 15 counts, including first-degree felony murder in perpetration of rape.
Watson will be serving life without parole for the charges, with a consecutive 25 years at 100 percent for the aggravated rape charge.
He also pleaded guilty to especially aggravated burglary, aggravated rape, felony escape, theft over $10,000, burglary, theft under $1,000 and aggravated criminal trespassing.
Watson also waived his rights to appeal in the future.
Prisons rebound from COVID-19 pandemic with the return of volunteers newschannel5.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newschannel5.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By ADRIAN SAINZ Created: June 14, 2021 04:25 PM
RIPLEY, Tenn. (AP) - A convicted felon accused of raping and killing a Tennessee corrections administrator and then escaping from prison on a farm tractor was sentenced to life without parole Monday after striking a deal with prosecutors.
Curtis Ray Watson told a judge that he agreed to plead no contest to first-degree murder in the perpetration of a rape in the death of Tennessee Department of Correction administrator Debra Johnson, 64. He also pleaded no contest to aggravated rape, and guilty to seven additional charges, including aggravated burglary and escape.
Prosecutors had initially filed a notice to seek the death penalty should Watson be convicted at trial in connection with the Aug. 7, 2019 attack. Premeditated first-degree murder was one of the charges dropped under the plea deal. He is currently being held at a maximum security prison in the Nashville area.
Anchorage, AK, United States / KBYR 700 AM
Jun 14, 2021 | 11:25 AM
RIPLEY, Tenn. (AP) â A convicted felon was sentenced to life in prison without parole Monday in a deal with prosecutors in the rape and killing of a Tennessee prison administrator during a 2019 escape.
Curtis Ray Watson pleaded no contest to a charge of first-degree murder in the perpetration of a rape. He also pleaded no contest to aggravated rape, and guilty to seven additional charges, including aggravated burglary and escape.
Lauderdale County Judge Joe Walker sentenced Watson to life in prison without parole for the murder charge and an additional 25 years for the rape charge.
The 901: What s it like to commute across the I-55 bridge? msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.