The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie David Allen Watson, right, stands next to attorney Gregory Tingler, left, during Watson’s sentencing hearing this week.

ELKINS — A Randolph County man received the maximum sentence of five to 25 years in prison this week after previously pleading guilty to sexual abuse in the first degree.

David Allen Watson, 50, was sentenced by Randolph County Circuit Court Judge Jaymie Wilfong to five to 25 years in the state penitentiary after entering a plea in November to one count of sexual abuse in the first degree, a felony.

Watson will have to pay a $5,000 fine and, upon release, will be under extended supervision for 50 years. He will also be registered as a sex offender for life.

Before the sentence was issued, Assistant Randolph County Prosecutor Christina Harper addressed the court, asking that Wilfong give Watson the maximum sentence as this was a “particularly egregious offense.”

“In the pre-sentence report… I believe (Watson) made a comment along the lines that the victim was chosen ‘wrong place, wrong time,'” Harper told the court. “It’s very opportunistic, and again, I think he’s trying to mitigate some of his responsibility; however, that opportunistic crime gives some serious concern about the need to protect society.”

In turn, Watson’s attorney, Gregory Tingler, asked the court to consider a split sentence, which would see Watson serve the remainder of one year in prison with a suspension of the remaining sentence, as well as a minimal fine of $1,000. Tingler explained that Watson had a very small criminal history, which did not include any sexual crimes until now.

“There’s no other criminal history to look at,” Tingler said. “There’s nothing to suggest that (Watson) would ever commit an offense like this in the future… No one will ever know, other than Mr. Watson and the victim in this case, precisely what happened, but when we look at (Watson’s) history, there’s nothing to indicate that he’d be a sexual predator in the past or in the future other than this particular event that we’re talking about.”

Watson also addressed the court before he was sentenced, stating that he did not want to become a burden to society by sitting behind bars when he could be “out doing some good.”

“I am remorseful for everybody involved in the situation,” Watson told the court. “I mean, if we had talked in November to where… I said I wouldn’t want to go to trial, because I don’t want to put (the victim) through that situation. So I am remorseful of anything that had happened in the past.”

As she sentenced Watson, Wilfong stated that the circumstances around the case were “heinous,” especially considering the victim’s age and Watson’s role in the victim’s life.

“I don’t need to say out loud what happened… it is not only egregious, it is heinous,” Wilfong said.

In November, Watson waived his right to an indictment, meaning a Randolph County Grand Jury would not review the evidence in his case. The case immediately moved forward to the Randolph County Circuit Court. He was initially charged with one count of sexual abuse by a parent, a guardian or custodian, a felony.

During that same November hearing, Watson entered into a plea agreement to one count of sexual abuse in the first degree. Watson agreed to an Alford plea, also known as a Kennedy plea, meaning he did not have to admit to the criminal act and could assert his innocence, but he still accepted the imposition of a sentence.

Before Watson entered into the plea in November, Harper informed the court of the factual basis for the case against Watson. She said that in February, Randolph County Deputy Rocky Hebb responded to a complaint and allegation of sexual abuse against Watson by a child under the age of 12.

Harper provided the court details of the victim’s accusations against Watson. She also spoke about the interview report given by Child Protective Services, which stated that Watson “expressed confusion” over the allegations and that he had stated he had “not had inappropriate contact” with the victim.