Defendant Sentenced to 30 years in prison following ICAC Taskforce Investigation

CONROE, TX -- On Tuesday, June 16, 2020, Curtis Watkins was sentenced to 30 years in prison following a plea agreement in the 221st District Court on the charge of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Watkins will have to serve at least half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

This case was initiated in April 2019, when the Defendant was identified in an investigation out of California. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations determined that Watkins was in the Houston area and had direct access to a child and that child was at extreme risk of sexual abuse. Agents in California quickly coordinated with federal and state law enforcement with the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce who identified the child and apprehended Curtis Watkins. Watkins ultimately confessed to sexually abusing the child.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Conroe Police Department and prosecuted by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. All agencies are members of the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. The Task Force is a multi-agency effort that includes officers from local, state and federal agencies who combine resources to combat the online exploitation of children. Children's Safe Harbor, Montgomery County's Children's Advocacy Center, assisted in this investigation.

According to Children's Safe Harbor, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported a 106% increase in Cyber Tip reports of suspected abuse from March 2019 to March 2020. As children continue to be isolated due to the pandemic there is great concern for increased abuse and neglect both in person and online.

ADA Shanna Redwine: 'The ICAC Taskforce has once again done what it does so well, saved a child from abuse. The professional and swift response of the Home Security Investigations agents and Conroe Police Department detectives ensured that a dangerous man is in prison and a child in our community is now safe.'

District Attorney Brett Ligon: 'The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office is steadfast in our commitment to the safety of children. If you harm a child in this county we will not rest until you are brought to justice.'