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Florida Mayor Defends Incoming Town Manager Despite Sex Offender Status
Posted on 6/22/26 at 2:28 pm
Posted on 6/22/26 at 2:28 pm
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/florida-mayor-defends-incoming-town-154825364.html
quote:
A small town in Florida is getting a new town manager, and she's a previously convicted sex offender.
April Watson is expected to take over as the manager of Jay when the current manager, Eric Seib, retires next month on July 3. Seib has only been working in a part-time capacity since September 2025. She was previously unanimously appointed by the Jay Town Council when Seib went to part-time.
Jay Mayor Shon Owens said he was aware of Watson's previous crimes, per a report from USA Today published on Thursday, June 18.
"I'm not familiar with details of the case against her," Owens said. "I do know that she's the right person for the job. There is a great deal of confidence within the community in her ability to do the job."
Watson's new position has garnered a renewed interest in her criminal history. She's a registered Florida sex offender and pleaded no contest in 2010 to three charges of engaging in unlawful sexual activity with minors.
According to a 2010 report from NorthEscambia.com, Watson was working as a high school teacher in 2007. She and another teacher — Ashley Burkett — had sex with two 17-year-old male students between July and October of that year. Both women were 31 years old at the time.
An anonymous letter was sent to the Santa Rosa County School District alleging that the two women were engaged in inappropriate relationships with two of their students, and an investigation was launched.
"Two victims alleged that they were involved in sexual activity with Watson at her residence and the residence of Burkett between the months of July and October 2007," Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office Spokesman Sgt. Scott Haines said after their arrests in 2009.
"One other victim alleged that he was involved in sexual activity with Burkett at her residence and the residence of Watson between the months of July and October 2007," Haines continued. "Both of the suspects were questioned by investigators and they both admitted to the unlawful sexual activity."
Burkett and Watson both pleaded no contest and were each sentenced to 15 months in prison. They served a year of their sentence.
19
Posted on 6/22/26 at 2:31 pm to theCAW
Need more pics to form an opinion
Posted on 6/22/26 at 2:31 pm to theCAW
I’m torn.
She did her time… but she obvious has shitty decision making skills.
She did her time… but she obvious has shitty decision making skills.
Posted on 6/22/26 at 2:33 pm to theCAW
2011, definitely had a wingman situation going on.
Posted on 6/22/26 at 2:34 pm to theCAW
Someone fixed her.
Posted on 6/22/26 at 2:36 pm to SallysHuman
quote:
I’m torn.
She did her time… but she obvious has shitty decision making skills.
I'm curious, if it were a man would you feel differently?
Posted on 6/22/26 at 2:37 pm to SallysHuman
quote:
I’m torn.
She did her time… but she obvious has shitty decision making skills.
Ok, walt
Posted on 6/22/26 at 2:39 pm to theCAW
Posted on 6/22/26 at 2:40 pm to Snipe
quote:
quote:
I’m torn.
She did her time… but she obvious has shitty decision making skills.
I'm curious, if it were a man would you feel differently?
she did do her time, "kids" were 17, iir, her new job isn't around kids, sure
Posted on 6/22/26 at 2:41 pm to Snipe
quote:
I'm curious, if it were a man would you feel differently?
No, I don't think I would.
For a lot of things I think once you do your time, that's that... but this is trickier because she has a track record of abusing her position and making terrible choices. While I'm torn, I lean towards hell no she shouldn't be a manager of a Popeye's much less a town.
Posted on 6/22/26 at 2:42 pm to SallysHuman
quote:
she has a track record of abusing her position and making terrible choices.
quote:
she shouldn't be a manager of a Popeye's much less a town.
she's perfect for running a town
Posted on 6/22/26 at 3:03 pm to 777Tiger
quote:
she did do her time, "kids" were 17, iir, her new job isn't around kids, sure
I'm not a big fan of trying to minimize that the victim was underage by making it seem they were 17 so I mean that's basically 18. That makes it real easy to say well they were 16 and so on.
Under the age of 18 is considered a minor, and this person was a teacher at that. It's not like they met at a club and the 17 yo used fake ID. Plus I can't quite tell but it seem that was a 3 way with another teacher involved.
That's a little past a mistake in my book.
Now flip the script, and say two male teachers are having a 3 way with a 17 yo female student and I guarantee you they are not getting let off the hook by just doing their time. The double standard is real, maybe not so with you all but the greater majority of people will hold these situations in a different light.
Posted on 6/22/26 at 3:04 pm to theCAW
quote:
Posted on 6/22/26 at 3:05 pm to Snipe
quote:
The double standard is real
no doubt about it
Posted on 6/22/26 at 3:10 pm to Snipe
quote:100%
The double standard is real, maybe not so with you all but the greater majority of people will hold these situations in a different light.
Happens on this website all the time.
The excusing of females in these situations is the norm.
Same punishment should be doled out for the same crime, no matter the gender.
Posted on 6/22/26 at 3:12 pm to theCAW
After reading the title assumed Golden had become a town manager 
Posted on 6/22/26 at 3:14 pm to theCAW
It seems, by nature of this article and this post, that the lingering effect of her crimes (at least to her reputation if not employment) is doing work.
I say tough titty on that. It’s kinda like karma’s 3rd cousin.
I say tough titty on that. It’s kinda like karma’s 3rd cousin.
Posted on 6/22/26 at 3:17 pm to Scruffy
quote:
Happens on this website all the time.
The excusing of females in these situations is the norm.
Same punishment should be doled out for the same crime, no matter the gender.
I agree with you Scruffy, but if she was convicted of what the prosecutors charged her of, did her time, then it's incumbent on the public to give her the OJ treatment, she'a legally paid her debt
Posted on 6/22/26 at 3:18 pm to theCAW
This is just a publicity stunt to get people to talk about a tiny town with 583 people that nobody’s heard of before.
Posted on 6/22/26 at 3:19 pm to theCAW
She did her time, let her live her life.
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