Alleged Child Rapist Seeks Change In House Arrest Terms

An alleged child rapist from Melrose will only be allowed to visit his sick brother in Bourne if his brother's doctor provides documentation of his illness, a judge said in Middlesex Superior Court on Tuesday morning.

Charles Bookman, attorney for Francis Watt, 68, asked Judge Leila Kern to completely remove GPS monitoring from Watt's bail terms. After he was arraigned last month in Middlesex Superior Court on charges including aggravated rape of a child, rape of a child with force and two counts of assault to rape a child, Watt was ordered held on $15,000 cash bail and that he remain under house arrest, only leaving his home at 38 Beaumont St. in Melrose for court, doctor's appointments and attorney visits.

Bookman argued that Watt has no prior criminal record, no family elsewhere and no financial means to travel, but would like to visit his "very ill" brother. He also noted that the alleged victims in the case are both relatives of Watt's.

"Even if you look upon this case in the least favorable light, Mr. Watt doesn't have a history of seeking out victims," he said.

According to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, the first victim, now an adult, was between the ages of 3-14 when she was allegedly abused by Watt. That victim suspected that Watt was also abusing his 12-year-old autistic granddaughter and videotaped the alleged abuse before going to the Melrose Police. According to the DA's Office, when interviewed by police, Watt admitted to abusing the second victim.

Assistant District Attorney Deb Bercovitch countered Bookman's request by pointing out that the bail conditions were not previously contested at the arraignment in May or Watt's first arraignment at Malden District Court in March. She added that Melrose Police have received complaints from neighbors of Watt being outside his home, which does not trigger the GPS device he wears on his ankle as a condition of his bail.

Judge Kern said that house arrest means that Watt is allowed outside his home, just not off his property. She said that if the concern is Watt being able to visit his sick brother, the Probation Department must first receive documentation of the illness from Watt's brother's physician.

"Visits to the brother on the GPS device can be worked out," she said. "Beyond that, I will not remove the GPS."

In addition to the GPS monitoring, Watt is free on bail on the conditions that he have no contact with the alleged victims; no contact with potential witnesses; and no contact with children under the age of 16.