PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Two Philadelphia police officers have been arrested and are set to be dismissed for separate crimes, with one officer facing charges of child pornography after being arrested by federal authorities.
William Watts, Sr., 55, has been charged with transportation and possession of images of children being sexually assaulted.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says Watts downloaded several files of child pornography from Whatsapp that included children engaged in sexual acts, some with adults.
"As alleged in the Criminal Complaint, the defendant sought out videos of children being abused for his own gratification – thus adding to the demand for these types of images to be produced and more children to be victimized," said Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams.
"The convenience and accessibility of digital images, coupled with the ease with which child sexual exploitation crimes can be concealed online, make these cases extremely difficult to investigate and prosecute.
He was arrested Thursday after the FBI searched his Philadelphia home.
If convicted, Watts faces a maximum possible sentence of 40 years in prison.
Watts is suspended for 30 days and will be dismissed at that time.
Assault arrest will lead to second firing for officer
Another Philadelphia police officer will be fired for a second time in six years, after being arrested again for assault.
Police officials said in April, 22nd District Police officer Joseph Marion, 45, punched a man across his face, which prompted a struggle between the two men. That's when the officer's gun fell onto the ground.
A kid who was right there picked it up. No one was injured with the gun, and Internal Affairs says Marion didn't threaten anyone with the gun.
But authorities have now charged Marion with simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct.
Marion was arrested and charged in 2015 for allegedly hitting a Dunkin Donuts worker who was salting the ground outside the store, when the cart he was using hit Marion's car.
Marion was accused of attacking the worker and a woman who was trying to intervene. He was arrested then on assault charges, which resulted in a negotiated plea of disorderly conduct engaging in fighting, which is a summary offense.
He got his job back.
Commanders will again fire Marion within the next month, as per the union contract.
Editor's update, Dec. 29, 2023
Joseph Marion was found guilty in November 2022 of simple assault and was sentenced to six months probation. William Watts pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography in December 2022. He was sentenced to about five years in prison.
