Crystal Lynne Watty, 38, was convicted on Wednesday, June 27 in the Cherokee Court (file number CR-12-168) for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and was sentenced to two years imprisonment.
The sentence, issued by Cherokee Court Judge Kirk G. Saunooke, was the first single sentence of more than one year imposed in the Cherokee Court authorized by the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010.
Tribal Prosecutor Jason Smith said, “I want to thank the Cherokee Indian Police Department and Detective Wahnetah Toineeta for her hard work in the investigation of this case which helped make this conviction possible. I think this sentence makes it clear that cases of Registered Sex Offender violations will be treated seriously by the Office of the Tribal Prosecutor, the Cherokee Indian Police Department and the Cherokee Court.”
He went on to say, “I think it is important to realize that this sentence, imposed pursuant to the authority granted by the recently enacted Tribal Law and Order Act, is the first of its kind in the Cherokee Court and quite possibly in the entire country. I believe this enhanced sentencing authority created by the Tribal Law and Order Act (a maximum of three years per count and nine years per case) will significantly help this Office to seek justice and improve safety in Cherokee.”
– Office of the Tribal Prosecutor
