December 21, 2023
A Weatheford woman received a felony charge of child abuse in Custer County District Court recently after allegedly injuring a boy’s neck by placing her hands on him.
According to court records, 58-year-old Joyce Watson was charged on December 11 after authorities were made aware of the incident.
The probable cause affidavit showed that the incident in question occurred in November when Watson allegedly became upset with her 12-year-old grandson and had placed her hands around his neck before being separated.
Investigators would interview witnesses, including the boy, who would confirm that the incident took place. The boy would also tell police that while he was being chocked, it hurt his neck.
Police were also able to review text messages between the victim and his father, later identified as being 33-year-old Brandon Lynn Watson, that showed the boy discussing the alleged abuse with his father.
Brandon Watson would later be charged with one misdemeanor count of failure to report child abuse.
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