GARY WATTS
BY STACI WILSON
An 11-year-old alleged sexual assault victim took the stand in a preliminary hearing Monday in Montrose District Court.
The child described numerous occurrences of inappropriate touching by Gary Lee Watts, 54, Prague, Okla., that she said happened in Auburn Twp. over the course of several months in 2010.
District Attorney Jason Legg said the child was being groomed by Watts for exploitation.
Watts was charged in December with felony counts of attempt of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child and indecent assault of a child under the age of 13.
He was also charged with misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure and corruption of minors.
Watts also faces simple assault charges stemming from an August 2010 incident in Auburn Twp.
The cases were heard together by Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey Hollister on Monday.
All charges lodged against Watts were bound over for trial in the Susquehanna County Court of Common Pleas.
Attorney Thomas Meagher III asked the court to reduce Watts’ bail which had been set at $100,000 or 10 percent cash equivalent on Jan. 31.
Legg argued there was a moderate risk that Watts, who moved back to Oklahoma after the alleged assault in August, would not return.
He also said that Watts posed a threat to the community.
Hollister denied the bail reduction request.
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