james-wattersA Jefferson man was recently sentenced to probation for a December incident.

According to court documents, 50 year-old James Alan Watters was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to a Class D Felony for third degree burglary and an aggravated misdemeanor for domestic abuse assault. In the plea agreement, Watters had his five-year prison sentence suspended and was placed on three years of probation for the felony burglary charge. For his misdemeanor domestic abuse charge, Watters had all but ten days of his one-year prison sentence suspended and was placed on one year of probation. He was also ordered to pay over $3,000 in fines, surcharges, court costs, attorney fees and victim restitution.

The judgement stems from an incident on December 10, 2016. A domestic dispute was reported at a rental property in the 300 block of South Pinet Street. Watters held his estranged wife against her will and tried to have sex with her against her will.

Watters was originally charged with a Class B Felony for burglary, a Class C Felony for intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a Class D Felony for assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and an aggravated misdemeanor for domestic abuse assault or use of weapon.