A 20-year-old Marshall resident charged in 2018 with sex-related felonies in two different cases changed his plea during a hearing in each case earlier this week.
According to a probable-cause statement, on October 11, 2018, a 13-year-old female told authorities about an unwanted sexual encounter with Chase Matthew Watts. Online court documents say Watts was charged with an Unclassified Felony for Statutory Rape or Attempted Statutory Rape in the First Degree- with a Person Less Than 14 Years of Age.
Court documents also say Watts was charged with three counts of an Unclassified Felony for Sodomy in the First Degree- Aggravated Sexual Offense. He was alleged to have touched a girl inappropriately and had the girl perform sexual acts on him.
During a hearing in each case on Monday, September 9, Watts withdrew his original plea of not guilty and pleaded guilty as charged.
Court documents also say the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole is ordered to conduct an investigation and file a written report prior to the sentencing date.
Watts is scheduled for a sentencing hearing in each cause at 1:15 p.m. on November 12 at Saline County Circuit Court.