Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Staff report
AUSTINTOWN
A township woman told police her child’s father raped her Monday.
Police were called to St. Elizabeth Health Center to meet with the woman who said she wanted to press charges against Sean Watkins, 41, of Niles.
The woman told police she has a son with Watkins and was scared for her life and her son’s life after the incident occurred, according to a police report.
According to the report, Watkins assaulted the woman in her Idlewood Road home after he let himself in as she slept on the couch.
The woman told police Watkins punched her and shoved her head into the couch, making it difficult for her to breathe during the assault.
After the assault, Watkins went through the house and rummaged through the woman’s property, she told police.
A sexual-assault evidence kit was taken into evidence.
Police arrested Watkins, and he is now in Mahoning County jail on charges of rape and domestic violence. His arraignment was to be today in Mahoning County Area Court here.
Watkins pleaded guilty in 2011 to a child-endangering charge in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. According to court records, he was placed on probation for three years, but first had to serve one year in jail.
He also had domestic- violence charges filed against him in March 2008 in Trumbull County, but the case was dismissed later that year, according to court records.