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Mid Bay News has received and authenticated a copy of the Okaloosa County Clerk’s report that details the decision by the Office of the State Attorney to drop molestation charges against Robert Morris Watson, III.
Watson was accused on March 3 of molesting a child at Crosspoint Church in Crestview and was arrested in dramatic fashion by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office as he flew back into the United States to turn himself in to the Crestview Police Department.
“There is insufficient evidence to establish that the defendant [Watson] ever had an opportunity to commit the alleged acts on the child,” the document reported.
The Office of the State Attorney cited Crosspoint’s computerized attendance records to back up their assertion that Watson could not have committed the alleged crime. They added that in the window of time, which took place over a period of months between late 2024 and 2025, the alleged victim said the sexual abuse took place – the two were paired in the same classroom once.
Furthermore, the state attorney added, Watson was not ever positively identified by the alleged victim in the case. “When presented with a photo lineup the child was asked if they ‘see anyone they know?’ [sic] The child first identified someone other than the defendant,” The State Attorney’s report explained, “Only after being instructed to look again did the child point to the defendant’s picture.”
During the forensic interview, the child initially identified somoene who had “skin color as being dark like [redacted] who is African American. The Defendant is white.”
Finally, in the document from the State Attorney’s office that bears Assistant State Attorney Christine R. Bosau’s digital signature, the prosecutors note that the child did not appear to be of her own mind regarding the situation. “It was noted by trained medical professionals after both the medical exam and interview that the child “demonstrated a high degree of suggestibility and confabulation when recounting events” and “has difficulty recalling events consistently.” The child failed to disclose any specific acts of a sexual nature but described being struck by a hammer and being struck by a show in the face and head. No injuries consistent with these claims were ever noted or reported.”
According to a study by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center – about two in ten reports of sexual violence are false.
According to the Morris Firm of Pensacola, “When someone reports a sexual assault, law enforcement may conduct an investigation and determine that, based on the facts, the alleged assault never actually took place. In this case, the initial report is considered a false report.
A false report is not the same as a baseless report. A baseless report describes an event that investigators believe occurred but does not qualify as a crime.
In Florida, a person who files a report in good faith is immune from civil and criminal liability, even if the accusation is baseless. However, those who knowingly and willfully make false reports can face criminal charges of committing a first-degree misdemeanor offense,” they continue, “Whether you can sue the accuser depends on several factors unique to your case. You’ll need to discuss your options with your attorney. If you’ve suffered measurable financial losses due to the accusation, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit seeking damages. For example, if you lost your job, you may be able to pursue compensation for lost income. Suppose the accuser publicly alleged you sexually assaulted them, such as through a social media post. In that case, you may have further grounds to pursue legal action against them because of the harm to your reputation.”
Crosspoint Church Lead Pastor Jeremy Smith released an email to members of the church late Thursday morning in response to the news from earlier this week that molestation charges have been dropped against church member and children’s volunteer Robert Morris Watson, III.
In the statement, Smith noted that the State Attorney’s office filed a “No Prosecution Notice.”
“There is insufficient evidence to establish that the defendant ever had an opportunity to commit the alleged acts on the child. Computerized attendance records obtained by the State Attorney’s Office indicate that the defendant was present in the daycare classroom at Crosspoint Church with the child on only one occasion during the specified dates. A second adult volunteer was also in the classroom and stated in her interview that she never left the defendant alone for more than a few seconds, as the church policy requires there to always be two volunteers in the classroom at all times.”
Smith added in his letter to the congregation obtained by Mid Bay News that Crosspoint Church cooperated with the investigation and asked the members to pray for everyone involved in the situation.
“The safety of our kids, students, vulnerable adults, and volunteers is a top priority,” he wrote, “Our systems and processes are designed to protect all parties involved, and we continually evaluate how to create the safest environment possible for everyone.”
The charges against Robert Morris Watson III have been dismissed – just a day before he was to appear in court for a motion hearing in Crestview.
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputies made a show of arresting Morris at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport in March – posting a photo of him being led away in handcuffs in the terminal on social media as he returned from an international trip to turn himself into the Crestview Police Department.
“I think justice got a big win today. We’re well pleased with the decision that has been made and that the case has been dismissed, we think appropriately,” Watson’s attorney, Mike Flowers, said. Flowers added that Watson is, “just ready to move forward with his life. It’s been a difficult time for him and his family, but we’re well pleased the system works and worked appropriately in this case.”
The man accused of molesting a child at a Crestview area Church has been rearrested and denied bond.
Crestview Police assert Robert Morris Watson, III molested a child in his care over a period between September 30, 2024, and the beginning of February 2025.
In an arrest affidavit obtained by Mid Bay News, Watson told police he had volunteered at the Church twice a month for at least the last year.
Crosspoint Church told Mid Bay News that they removed Watson from all volunteer duties after the allegations were made. They noted they reported the incident to the police when they became aware of the accusations against Watson.
Initially, Watson was released on a $10,000 signature bond. The Okaloosa County Court in charge of his trial rescinded his bond late last week and he was rearrested on March 13, 2025 in connection with the incident.
A pretrial conference is set for June 23, 2025.
Watson has pleaded not guilty on all charges, which include Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a child under the age of 12 by someone older than 18, and cruelty toward a child without great bodily harm.
A Crestview man who volunteered at Crosspoint Church’s kids ministries was arrested Wednesday after his plane landed at Destin Fort Walton Beach Airport by Okaloosa Sheriff’s deputies. Crestview Police have since charged Robert Morris Watson, III with molesting a child at the church.
an earlier version of this report used the words daycare facility in line with the police affidavit. We’ve since learned Watson volunteered solely with the kids ministry and not with Crosspoint Childcare.
He’s charged with lewd or lascivious behavior – molestation of a child under the age of 12 by someone 18 or older and cruelty toward a child. If found guilty, a court can sentence a defendant with an adjudication of guilt to life in prison.
The Okaloosa County Jail released Watson on a $10,000 signature bond on March 5, jail records reveal.
According to the Okaloosa Clerk’s Website, Watson has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Watson will have his felony plea hearing on May 8 at 1:30 in the Crestview Courthouse.
According to a Crestview Police Department affidavit, 35-year-old Robert Morris Watson, III, violated the law by intentionally touching the genitalia of a child with a doll when in a bathroom attached to the class.
The Police affidavit also claims Watson struck the child’s face when the child told him ‘no’ during the interaction. According to the arrest report, the injuries from the incident were severe enough to leave “bruising, swelling and burst blood vessels inside the eye.”
Crestview Police say one incident took place around February 10, but allege this happened multiple times. The police affidavit records September as the beginning timeframe for the investigation.
The child, who reported the incident to their parent, said it occurred on February 10, 2025, and described Watson as “The bad teacher“.
Forensic interviewers who spoke to the child said they knew the difference between a truth and a lie.
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According to the arrest affidavit, the officer investigating the case spoke with the campus pastor, who noted that Watson had volunteered in the 3-5-year-old daycare room for about two years. Watson later explained that after officers gave him his Miranda Warning, he volunteered twice a month for some period of time.
The officer discovered from another witness that the daycare center has a policy that “requires two adults to be in each class for supervision purposes,” but that “he had been left without another adult in the class,” in the past.
Crosspoint Church’s leadership sent out an email Thursday morning acknowledging the arrest to members throughout Okaloosa and Walton Counties.
In the email, the Lead Pastor for all campuses of Crosspoint Church Jeremy Smith told members that “a former volunteer in our Kids Ministry at the North Crestview Campus has been arrested for incidents that are reported to have occurred on that campus.”
Smith told members that the church’s first priority was the safety of children. “These kids are our kids, and I want you to know that once we were notified, we immediately reported to authorities and took action to remove the volunteer from any further services.”
Smith also asked for members to pray for everyone involved in the allegations and to refrain from rumor-spreading about the matter. “As this matter unfolds, I would encourage us as Christians not to engage in gossip and to pray for all people involved. In fact, I am asking that as soon as you get through reading this, please spend a few minutes in prayer for this whole situation.”
Pastor Smith reiterated in phone call with Mid Bay News that his staff are cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation and that they removed the volunteer and contacted authorities as soon as they received the allegations. “We are praying for Law Enforcement and the judiciary as this process plays out,’ Smith said, “I’ve been here for 14 years and I believe in this community. I would ask everyone to spend time praying for everyone that this story touches. These are real people and real families. That is what we are going to do as a church.”
Smith added that the church is unaware of any other incidents involving students or volunteers at the church at this time.
Pro Communi Bono
