Ex-KSU student takes plea deal in off-campus rapes

A former Kent State University student who was accused of raping two teens after attending a party at an off-campus home more than 18 months ago has pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

McCoy C. Watkins , 23, of Canfield pleaded guilty July 30 to two counts of felony gross sexual imposition in Portage County Common Pleas Court. Sentencing is pending completion of a presentencing investigation by the court's adult probation department.

A jury trial scheduled to begin Tuesday was canceled.

Kent Police said it was reported that Watkins attended a party at a North Lincoln Street home during the evening of Nov. 11, 2022. He left, but allegedly re-entered later without permission and engaged in nonconsensual "sexual activity" with a 19-year-old female he found sleeping on a couch and then with an 18-year-old female sleeping upstairs, said police.

Afterward, Watkins was told to leave the home and did so.

Watkins was reported to have been a KSU student at the time of the reported assaults, but earlier this year, the university said he was no longer a student.

In a plea deal, Watkins' charges were amended down from two counts of felony rape, and a felony burglary charge was dismissed, according to court records.

Watkins is facing a maximum possible sentence of three years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 plus court costs, according to court records. He also is expected to be declared a Tier I sex offender, which would require him to register with the sheriff of any county where he lives annually for 15 years.

Pending sentencing, a $200,000 cash or surety bond has been ordered continued.

Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Ex-KSU student takes plea deal in off-campus rapes