COURT HOUSE – Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor and Chief Christopher Leusner of the Middle Township Police Department announce the arrest of Vincent Watkins, 57, a resident of the Whitesboro section of Middle Township. On Aug. 13, Watkins was arrested and charged with sexual assault, a crime of the second degree.
Members of the Special Victims Unit of the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and the Major Crimes Unit of the Middle Township Police Department initiated a joint investigation after receiving information from a concerned citizen regarding suspicious activity between juvenile members of the Bethel Commandment Church and it’s Boy Scout Troop dating back to the early 1990s. At the time, Watkins was a member of the church and was also involved in the Boy Scout Troop 1104, which are located in Whitesboro.
The investigation conducted by Detectives Kati Gannon of the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, and Tracey Super of Middle Township Police Department revealed that in July of 1991, Watkins allegedly sexually assaulted a juvenile male who was between the age of 13 and 16 years old, and who was a member of the church and Scout Troop. On Aug. 13, Watkins was arrested and charged at the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Center in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.
Prosecutor Taylor stated this is an ongoing investigation and urges citizens who may have additional information concerning this investigation to contact the Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135, or the Middle Township Police Department at 609-465-8700, or text TIP MTPDTIPS followed by your message, to 888777 or text a tip using the Cape May County Sheriff’s Department TIP 411 app.
Prosecutor Taylor advises that persons convicted of a second-degree crime are subject to a term of imprisonment of 5 to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison. Prosecutor Taylor also commends the members of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Middle Township Police Department who cooperated in this investigation.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
