According to the Santa Rosa County Jail View website, April Watson, 50, was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail on July 20 at about 10:47 a.m. No bond was listed.
The Santa Rosa Press Gazette sent a public records request to the Sheriff’s Office on Monday but had not received the records as of publication.
Earlier this month, Watson, who is the town’s operations manager, was considered for the town manager position. A motion to appoint her was defeated in a 4-1 vote July 7, with Councilman Mike Hutto casting the lone dissenting vote.
Watson was arrested by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office in August 2009. Court documents show she, along with another teacher, engaged in sex acts with three 17-year-old male students in July and October 2007. Watson was later found guilty.
She was sentenced to 15 months in prison and served one year, followed by 18 months of community control and five years of probation. Watson also was required to register as a sex offender.
Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Nikki McDonald told the Santa Rosa Press Gazette by phone that deputies made several arrests during the morning operation involving registered sex offenders accused of violating registration requirements.
This is a developing story. More information will be added as it becomes available.
Collin Bestor is a reporter for the Santa Rosa Press Gazette. Contact him at c.bestor@srpressgazette.com.
