Paulding County Jury Convicts Man for Sexual Abuse of 12-year-old

DALLAS, GA – Travon Watson, 34, of Granite City, Illinois, was found guilty on July 18, 2025, of aggravated child molestation, aggravated sexual battery, and child molestation. The verdict was announced by District Attorney Robert S. Lane following a four-day trial in Paulding County.

The charges originated from a Dallas Police Department (DPD) investigation that commenced on October 8, 2022, after the mother of a 12-year-old minor child contacted DPD to report her suspicions of child sexual abuse.

During the trial, the minor child testified, along with the lead detective for the State. After two days of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on all charges.

“I am grateful to the members of the jury and the citizens of this county that we are putting our foot down and refuse to accept this heinous behavior in our county. This is a trend we must continue to create a safer Paulding County,” said Assistant District Attorney Deidra Alexander, who prosecuted the case.

The Honorable Dean C. Bucci has scheduled sentencing for Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom No. 2. Watson has been remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Paulding County and is being held at the Paulding County Jail pending sentencing.

“Children have an unequivocal right to grow up in peace with their innocence guarded against those who prey on that innocence,” said District Attorney Robert S. Lane. “As the most vulnerable members of our society, my office will use every tool at its disposal to ensure that children are protected from those who would prey on them.”

The Dallas Police Department investigated this case, and it was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Deidra Alexander and Senior Assistant District Attorney John Tully with the Paulding Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.