Child Sex Offender's Probation Revoked
Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009
EDITOR'S NOTE: The name of the victim is not identified to protect her identity.
By CASEY KNAUPP
Tyler Morning Telegraph Staff Writer
Marcus Willis, convicted of indecency with a child by a Smith County jury in March, had his probation revoked Wednesday because he lived too close to Lindsey Park - a place where children gather to play.
On March 5, a jury in 7th District Judge Kerry Russell's court found the 37-year-old Tyler man guilty of indecency with a child by sexual contact for repeatedly touching a 14-year-old girl inappropriately. The jury sentenced him to 10 years of probation and decided that if he violated the terms and conditions, he could be sentenced up to 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. That's exactly the punishment Russell handed down to Willis Wednesday after revoking his probation.
David Wood, Willis' probation officer, said when he determined Willis lived on Paula Drive, he knew the house was within 500 feet of Lindsey Park, which would be a violation of his probation because sex offenders cannot reside within 500 feet of a place where children commonly gather. Wood said Willis, who lived with his parents there, also had his juvenile nephew living with him at first but the child moved.
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