Judge says teen connected to 2009 officer assault needs to take probation seriously

A judge said Friday he wouldn't consider an agreement regarding a probation violation for a teen involved in a 2009 robbery that led to an assault of a Cedar Rapids police officer until he was convinced the teen was taking his probation seriously.

Robert Watkins, 18, was charged in April with driving under a suspended license and failure to report to his probation officer, according to a probation violation report. Watkins has been on probation for about a year after receiving a suspended sentence for first-degree robbery and interference with official acts causing serious injury. Watkins, who was 17 at the time, robbed two men in March 2009 and officer Tim Davis was seriously injured when he responded to the incident by another teen, Jose Rockiett, now 21, who was with Watkins.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Ian Thornhill continued the revocation of probation hearing Friday after Tyler Johnston, Watkins' attorney, and Assistant Linn County Attorney Jason Burns agreed to charging Watkins with contempt if he admitted the violations and to serve seven days jail. Thornhill said he didn't want to revoke Watkins' five-year probation but there was a 25 year sentence "hanging over his head" and he needed to know Watkins understood the seriousness of the violations and what would happen if he didn't adhere to the probation requirements.

Watkins didn't speak during the hearing.

Another hearing will likely be set later today.

Another teen charged in the robbery, Maurice Harden, 18, violated his probation last year by racking up six violations but the judge found him in contempt and ordered him to serve 180 days in jail, instead of revoking his probation.

Rockiett was

convicted in 2010 of first-degree robbery, willful injury causing serious injury and interference with official acts causing serious injury and/or while displaying a dangerous weapon. He is serving a 25-year prison term. Rockiett hit Davis in the head with the butt of a BB-gun and it took many months for Davis to recover from the serious brain injury.