COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) -- A Tabor City man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for trying to rape a child three years ago.
A Columbus County jury convicted Calvin Sherwood Watts, 52, of attempted rape of a child under 13, first degree kidnapping and three counts of statutory sex offense, the District Attorney's Office says. A judge sentenced him to between 41 years five months and 51 years three months in prison.
Prosecutors say on June 25-26, 2011, Watts kept an 11-year-old girl at his home. They say while moving her from room to room he sexually assaulted her multiple times and tried to rape her. Watts also threatened to hurt her and her family if she reported the crimes, prosecutors say.
