A Lucas County man indicted for nine counts of importuning has rejected a plea offer.
Vince Allen Watson, 29, of Holland, appeared Monday in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Molly Mack.
He was indicted in February for nine counts of importuning, five which were third-degree felonies and the remaining all fifth-degree felonies, and one count disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, also a fifth-degree felony.
The state offered to dismiss all remaining charges if Watson pleaded guilty to two of the F3 and one F5 importuning charges and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.
He would have to register as a Tier I sexual offender, which would require him to register annually for 15 years.
Defense attorney Joseph Westmeyer III rejected the offer on behalf of his client.
The two F3 importuning charges carry potential prison sentences of 36 months, said Wood County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Charles McDonald.
For the five F3 importuning charges, Watson is accused of soliciting a 12-year-old to engage in a sexual activity five times on July 14, 2021, by means of a telecommunication device.
He allegedly did the same thing four times to the same juvenile on March 22, 2022, when the child was 13 years old.
The difference in felony levels is due to the age of the victim at the time of the offense.
From March 22-April 15, 2022, Watson is accused of selling, providing or exhibiting material or performance that was obscene to the juvenile named in the importuning charges or to a law enforcement officer posing as the juvenile.
Westmeyer asked to vacate the August trial date, as he had a conflict.
Mack set a new trial date on Sept. 27.
A final pretrial was scheduled for Aug. 28.
