Watson trial to continue into next week

Feb. 03--BEACH, N.D. -- The trial of a former police chief accused of sexually abusing a child multiple times in southwest North Dakota will stretch into next week following testimony from the accuser, law enforcement and the accused's wife.

James G. Watson, 52, faces one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child, a Class AA felony, in Golden Valley County. The accuser was less than 15 years old at the time of the alleged acts from August 2011 through January 2012, though there are accusations Watson sexually assaulted the girl years earlier in Mississippi.

The accuser and Watson are not related but new each other. The Press typically does not identify accusers or victims in sexual assault cases.

Watson also faces the similar charges in Hettinger and Stark counties, but both trials are set for Feb. 7-9 at the Hettinger County Courthouse in Mott, N.D. Each charge carries a maximum punishment of life in prison without parole.

Watson, who was serving as chief of police for the LaMoure (N.D.) Police Department when he was arrested on the charges in late June, appeared Friday in court in Beach with his attorney, Kevin McCabe, in front of Southwest District Court Judge William Herauf for the third day of the trial.

McCabe attempted to point out during cross examination inconsistencies between the accuser's first interview with Helmer, which was shown on Thursday, and the subsequent interviews as well as her testimony. Videos shown Friday depicted interviews with the accuser in October and December.

McCabe asked the accuser questions about alleged events in Stark County involving oral and vaginial intercourse at Patterson Lake, which contained variances in the interview and the testimony. Additionally, he pointed to the accuser's original interview in which she stated nothing had happened in Golden Valley County. He noted her later interviews and testimony, when she testified that she had to have sex with Watson in exchange for certain privileges.

The defense called Watson's wife, Heather Watson, who recalled the timeline of their move to North Dakota. That timeline matched other testimony from the defense's witnesses but was contradicted by witnesses who testified for the prosecution.

Heather Watson testified the accuser "constantly" made up "lies." The accuser once said she was hit by a car and hit with a crowbar, the accused's wife said, claiming the accuser was only stung by a bee in that case.

Testimony from Heather Watson and the accuser also differed regarding the layout of the home where the alleged sexual abuse occurred, including the number of bedrooms in the home and where the Watsons slept.

Upon cross examination, Golden Valley County State's Attorney Christina Wenko asked Heather Watson if she would be "surprised" to learn that the owner of Buffalo Gap Guest Ranch, Mark "Ollie" Golberg testified the home had three bedrooms and had not changed the interior of the home since they moved. Heather Watson, who testified there were two bedrooms, claimed that part, apparently referencing the third bedroom, of the ranch home was not available to them.

Wenko also asked if it would be a fair statement to say when Heather Watson was not home she may not know what was going on, Heather Watson said it was possible.

The trial will continue on Monday, Feb. 5.

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