Watkins' second sentencing sent to juvenile court

Robert Watkins III, 15, will be sentenced in juvenile court for beating up a 9-year-old boy on the same night he and two others were involved in the beating of Cedar Rapids Police Officer Tim Davis.

Watkins pleaded guilty to charges he beat up the 9-year-old.

Prosecutor Nick Scott said the boy's nose was broken, and required two surgeries this summer.

Watkins will likely be sentenced in juvenile court to the Boys Training School in Eldora until he turns 18 in 2012. The case will then go back to adult court and the judge will review Watkins' progress before making a final sentence or letting him go.

The same is true of Watkins' guilty plea for his involvement in the incident with Davis, though that crime carries a far more serious penalty.

Watkins' mother and five little brothers and sisters were in the courtroom Friday as his future was discussed. None of his siblings looked older than 10. His mother declined to comment or give her name.

Christene Lafler, the 9-year-old boy's mother, trembled while she read a victim impact statement. She said her son has bad dreams and “he's scared that the bad guys are going to come.”

The last few months have been full of medical problems for the boy, she said. He's had swelling, bruises, nosebleeds and surgeries. Lafler closed her statement wishing Watkins a changed life.

“I really hope that Robert gets the chance to change while he's in Eldora,” she said.

Lafler's husband, Kent Lafler, read a statement from his 9-year-old stepson, who was not present.

“What you have done to me will not be forgotten,” he read. “But will be in the back of my mind forever.”

Watkins - a tall, skinny young man - was fidgety in the courtroom and looked at his mother before deputies took him out of the room in handcuffs.