N. Phila. child molester sentenced to 114-228 years

A North Philadelphia man found guilty of creating a sham neighborhood football team to lure and sexually assault vulnerable boys received a sentence of 114 to 228 years in prison Friday from a Philadelphia judge.

Common Pleas Court Judge Timika Lane told Leon Watson, "You have demonstrated you cannot live within the confines of a civilized society."

When Lane asked Watson, 26, if he had anything to say, he replied, "No, thank you. No."

"No apology?" asked Lane.

"No," Watson said.

In January, a jury found Watson guilty of sexually assaulting five boys, ages 8 to 10, and a 21-year-old disabled man he lured to his house in the 2400 block of Diamond Street to play on his neighborhood team, the "Little Vicks."

Assistant District Attorneys Branwen McNabb and Brandon Jaycox said the team existed in name only: a football tossed around and T-shirts hand-lettered with marker as a uniform.

Watson had a juvenile history of sexually assaulting five other children, including his siblings. McNabb said that Watson's conduct came to light when one of his relatives made an anonymous call to the Department of Human Services.

When DHS workers and police showed up at Watson's door in November 2013, McNabb said, he told two older boys in the house to lie about their names, ages, and parents, and ordered two younger boys to hide in an upstairs closet. Police insisted on searching the house and found those boys.

McNabb said Watson had taken the two - brothers, now 11 and 10 - to a get-together held by his relatives, and they told about the abuse.

Both boys were in court for Watson's sentencing and submitted victim-impact letters read aloud by McNabb.

"I hope you're in jail for a long time for what you did to me and my brother," read one letter. "I'm scared for life, I hate you."

The older brother wiped tears from his eyes as the letters were read, occasionally stealing a glance at the impassive Watson, seated about 15 feet away.

McNabb called the boys "heroes" and the judge agreed, directly addressing the brothers.

"Don't let this defendant define you. You will rise above it," Lane said. "Don't let him tell you what your life will be. . . . You're brave young men."

"Thank you," the older brother quietly replied.

Defense attorney Stephanie Fennell argued for a sentence of 20 to 40 years, saying Watson was sexually and physically abused by relatives as a child, and shuffled from relative to relative until placed in a juvenile facility.

"He's 26 years old, and he is a defendant and convicted of some of the worst crimes possible," Fennell said. "But he should have been a complainant when he was 5 to 8 years old, many years ago.

"We're asking for a glimmer of hope that he can be rehabilitated and we look forward to showing, your honor, that he has been rehabilitated."

McNabb, however, said Watson would surely prey on other boys if he got out of prison, adding that he began the football team scheme as soon as he was released from a juvenile facility at 21.

"These victims were emotionally vulnerable, from broken homes or parents who couldn't care for them," argued McNabb. "He capitalized on their love of football, and not just the game but the escape it gave them from the problems of their everyday lives."