Update: Hanahan detective posts bail on rape charges
Bail was reduced Tuesday for Cassie Watson
The Post and Courier
Originally published 12:00 a.m., August 20, 2008 Updated 03:47 p.m., August 20, 2008
Update: Watson posts bail
By Noah Haglund
The Post and Courier
A Hanahan police detective accused of raping an acquaintance left the Charleston County jail on Wednesday, a day after a judge lowered his bail on related charges.
Cassie Watson, 40, had been held on charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime since his Aug. 3 arrest. Originally held on a combined $325,000 bail, Charleston County Magistrate James Gosnell Jr. reduced the amount to $50,000 during a hearing on Tuesday. An automated system sent out a notice about his release about 1 p.m. the next day.
An acquaintance had accused Watson of holding her against her will and holding her at gunpoint. Watson’s attorney, Danny Martin, tried unsuccessfully to have the charges dismissed during Tuesday’s hearing.
Hanahan police suspended Watson with pay after his arrest.
Watson’s accuser has leveled similar rape allegations at other men at least three times in the past. Two of the cases were closed because of problems with evidence, and in the other, rape charges against two suspects were dismissed.
In an affidavit, the North Charleston woman said she met Watson through an online dating service about two years ago. Later, during an interview, she called him “possessive” and “controlling.” The Post and Courier does not normally name alleged rape victims.
Cassie Watson
A magistrate reduced bail Tuesday for a Hanahan police detective who's been in jail for two weeks on allegations that he held an acquaintance against her will and raped her at gunpoint. North Charleston police arrested Cassie Watson, 40, around midnight Aug. 3 on charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. His total bail was set at $325,000. Charleston County Magistrate James Gosnell Jr. reduced the amount to $50,000, of which Watson would have to post 10 percent. If released, Watson would be on house arrest. He was suspended with pay after his arrest. Gosnell denied defense attorney Danny Martin's motion to dismiss the charges. Martin said Watson was improperly arrested without a warrant and there was no evidence to corroborate the woman's allegations. North Charleston police Detective Matthew Lawless didn't dispute Martin during the hearing. Lawless said there is nothing to substantiate the allegations and that there is no evidence sex wasn't consensual. The woman had no visible signs of injury and there were no signs of a disturbance in her home, he said. Lawless said a rape kit has been sent to the State Law Enforcement Division lab. Martin said in an interview after the hearing he's certain the kit will show that the woman and Watson had sex because they'd had intercourse five or six times prior to Aug. 3. It was always consensual, he said. Watson and the woman had known each other about two years, according to affidavits. The Post and Courier does not identify alleged rape victims. It is not the first time the woman has made allegations of rape, according to police reports: -- In June 2002, she told Florence police that a neighbor punched her, held her in her apartment overnight and repeatedly raped her. The suspect she named said they had consensual sex, and he passed a SLED polygraph. The woman admitted lying about being held overnight but maintained she was raped. An investigator cleared the case based on the woman's lack of cooperation. -- In April 2000, the woman told the Charleston County Sheriff's Office that two men abducted her at knife-point, took her to a warehouse, hit her with a bat and raped her. She had no signs of injury and there was no evidence of sexual assault because she waited about 24 hours to contact authorities. She identified two men as her attackers, and they were charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Charges were dismissed in February 2001 because the woman's credibility was "too suspect to proceed," the court clerk's records show. -- In July 2000, the woman told Charleston County sheriff's deputies that the same two men raped her in her residence. Charleston County forwarded the information to the Dorchester County Sheriff's office because the alleged assault occurred in their jurisdiction. Dorchester County Maj. Mike Turner said Tuesday the case was closed because of a lack of leads and because, on further investigation, the woman was uncertain as to who assaulted her.
Reach Nita Birmingham at 937-5433 or nbirmingham@postandcourier.com.
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Posted by GJ56 on August 20, 2008 at 5:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So it was a fish that I smelled? The police department should be investagated as well!! Mr. Wilson is one of them and was treated as step child and they were happy to see go down. This women need some serious mental help.
Posted by WhoCares on August 20, 2008 at 5:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds to me like the woman may have been an ideal target for a police detective who would have access to her background. Even a rapist is smart enough to target victims who would have major credibility issues...
Posted by SCGirl0901 on August 20, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WhoCares.. that would be looonngg stretch due to previous articles that stated they met via an online dating service.. It would've been highly unlikely that he could have performed searches to find this person and been "lucky" enough to find her within that dating service -where you are anonymous to begin with.
It sounds like some more investigation should have been done before splashing this man all over the media. Even if the charges are dropped he's been through alot and it will take time for this to fade for him.
Posted by Tammie on August 20, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunately, women with her background make it hard for women with credible stories to be taken seriously or to even come forward. Some people like attention, it's like a drug. I think she needs some serious help. If she wants to sleep around, no need to be ashamed. She'd have to deal with the consequences. Just my opinion.
Posted by sbs920 on August 20, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sounds like another stephanie M. to me.
Don't beleive the beeochyt.
How many unwanted sexual advances has she reported?
Posted by candygirl on August 20, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
White women,Black man
White women cries wolf and the Black men is locked up, and treated like a criminal,I hope the table gets turned on her and they lock her azz up.
Posted by MsPiggy on August 20, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GJ56:
That fish you smelled must have been her.
But how do we know the woman was white? Did the article say and I just missed it?
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 20, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, candygirl...
How did you know this woman was white?
You must be Miss Cleo's f-ing psychic twin.
Posted by cwmcpa on August 20, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This story sounds familiar, Duke LaCrosse, Kobe Bryant, Tucker Carlson all convicted by the presss before being tried. I hope the P&C makes a committment to follow up on this story if the man is found innocent or the charges are dropped. A nice photo of the accuser would be equitable also. It was recently revealed that about 42% of rape accusations turn out to be false.
Posted by stephaniem on August 20, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sbs920, you are full of BS. Every bad incident I had since childhood with a male was with a KKK/Nazi wannabe who believed in white power and I was a heathen asian girl who needed to get out of white, christian america.
I do feel really sorry for this guy. If he was white, I don't think he would have been arrested. I know of police officers who have hit their wives/ stalked girlfriends but they were southern baptist good ole boys so nothing was done.
This is another example of how SC justice system has a tainted outlook on people of different religions, races or lifestyles other than the deep south
Posted by chucktonian on August 20, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the moral of the story? don't pick up women online. know these truths:
--everybody online lies about their appearance
--everybody online lies about their past
--everybody online just lies about everything
Posted by stephaniem on August 20, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thomas, since this man has already been charged, he has already paid out 30-45k for legal fees
I always thought murder trials were the most expensive but in SC -- murder and rape trials last somewhere around a week so many lawyers charge the same for each.
I am all for intense prosecution on rapists/ child molestors but I have to ask why....when nothing was done when I was a teen B-student virgin and this woman got 3 rape charges passed through.
Posted by BerkeleyCo_Mom_of_3 on August 20, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
stephaniem...bit of advice -- try some counseling, elsewhere. You're only continuing to eff up your own existence by being this morbid type of witch. Cripes.
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 20, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Blah blah blah.
Stephanie, quit playing the race card.
White males rape just as often as black.
White females are victims just as often as black females.
White people lie just as much as black people.
They arrested him because he was accused of rape.
If she was lying, she will be arrested for falsifying a police report.
Personal experience, it is really hard to win a conviction for rape-even WITH visual injuries.
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 20, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CB-Please don't make me choke on my turkey sammich!!
Very true though... if she hates it so much here, friggin LEAVE! We don't want you here anyway. The less hookers and murderers, the safer I feel.
Posted by forget on August 20, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Has everyone noticed that these are the only types of articles that she comes on here and rambles about?
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 20, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
*If you want my body and you think I'm sexy, C'mon baby show me the dough!*
*If you want my herpes and you think I'm packin, c'mon baby check out my pooooost*
Posted by BerkeleyCo_Mom_of_3 on August 20, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OMG. too f'ing hilarious.
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 20, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Poor lost souls don't whore themselves out and shoot people. There's another name for people like that... Hookers and murderers.
Posted by forget on August 20, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IMO, if she was wanting to put all that behind her she wouldn't post under her real name. Nor would she have numerous websites dedicated to herself. I just went and googled her name, and learned that this isn't the only place she rambles incoherently. And mostly about nothing.
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 20, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah. Attention-seeking whore.
She probably just fabricated the whole story, shot and killed that man just for notoriety.
Now all she is known for is being a cheap murdering whore.
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 20, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What's the difference between Stephanie Morosi and Ashley Dupre?
About $4700 :)
Posted by 96whaler on August 20, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I, for one, want to see the nekkid pics. So, fork 'em!
Posted by IslandGirl83 on August 20, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow... alot of interesting comments...
I just wanted to say I hope if this guy is infact innocent that his life has not been screwed up too much. It does sound like she is lying, and if she isn't it is another boy who cried wolf story.
Posted by jeff61 on August 20, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by stephaniem on August 20, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sbs920, you are full of BS. Every bad incident I had since childhood with a male was with a KKK/Nazi wannabe who believed in white power and I was a heathen asian girl who needed to get out of white, christian america.
Can you explain this since childhood comment,,, you must be refering to you father I take it. Do you consider yourself asian Stephie?
I can sum Stephie up in this way,
It's like passing an accident on the highway - I don't WANT to look, but sometimes I look, and then I feel nauseous and hate myself for exposing myself to that.
Posted by Tammie on August 20, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Marianne, after I've had 96 oz of water, I will start ignoring your posts!! Lmao
Posted by JLWDALFAN on August 20, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What ever happened to until proven guilty. This guy has been in jail for 2 weeks, and now we find out the lady is not very credible. Shame on the police for not giving him the benefit of a fair investigation. If he is indeed innocent, the woman should have to spend the same amount of time in jail as he has.
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 20, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tammie, after I've had 96 oz of water, I would pee myself :)
Posted by Girleygirl on August 20, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jeff- I want you to stop saying that.....roflmao
Posted by jeff61 on August 20, 2008 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well Sofa_Fart_Cushion,, my father died 13 years ago but I think he liked me. But since you mentioned it, no I do not like my mother, she has issues like yourself and somewhat like Arch's. This could be why I have understanding of people like you.
Posted by jeff61 on August 20, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think your late for your "date" with Stephie,,,
Posted by jeff61 on August 20, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry Sofa but I do not date whores, but you may want to tell your sister to raise her price to more then five dollars...I am sure she was too busy taking care of the mexicans down on Remount to have time to date me. Since I am not from here, when exactly would have dated your sister, by your own statement she must be attracted to kooks. I bet your sister is Stephie....
Posted by brkldy1027 on August 21, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have known this man for over 4 yrs and i know he is not capable of rape. I am a rape victim myself as a child and he knew my whole story and he listened to me when I needed a friend. I can not believe that this woman who has lied before ( according to the story)has been allowed to damage a great detectives life. This will follow him wherever he goes even if when he is found innocent. To all the women out there that have been raped this is awful. It is hard enough to be raped and have to go through the system as it is. She should be charged with a crime when all is said and done.
Posted by BerkeleyCo_Mom_of_3 on August 21, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
what the eff is wrong with newbies? Everbody has gotta start somewhere?
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 21, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds a lot like Sofa=arch. JMO
Posted by sixcar on August 21, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hanahan "Police Force"
as incompetent and crooked as they come. What a joke.
Posted by BerkeleyCo_Mom_of_3 on August 21, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gotcha ColdBeer..I could be offended because sometimes I bash people for the hell of it(it's called hormones I think), I definitely call names and they are usually quite foul(once a sailor, always a sailor), and having 3 children...I sometimes feel like one myself. Keeps me young I suppose. I will try to be a good newbie, but sometimes the bitchy woman in me lets loose and there are a lot of stupid people leaving comments that are just dying to be pummeled verbally. As for the people with multiple aliases..it just goes to show you how weak they are as people that they can't take the f'ing heat, but they like to serve it up themselves in the way of hot bullcocky.
Good day sir. :)
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on August 21, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah guys these "newbies" act like "oldies".Some rants are way to familiar.I love it when they get on here blasting us for posting and say get a life.Yet they admit theyve been cyber stalking our posts for months and hate us.
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on August 21, 2008 at 9:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by chucktonian on August 20, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the moral of the story? don't pick up women online. know these truths:
--everybody online lies about their appearance
--everybody online lies about their past
--everybody online just lies about everything
*walleyed cautiously extends head, peers around, takes deep breath*
Um, chuck, not everyone online is psycho. My husband and I met online and have been married almost 3 years. If he'd only agree to address me as the Queen of Sheba, he'd be perfect
:-)
But I see your point; it's easy to get burned OL.