Springfield man guilty of legal sodomy sentenced to 12 years in prison

A Springfield man who pleaded guilty to pointing a gun in a woman's face while awaiting trial on statutory sodomy charges has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Tigger C. Watson, 26, pleaded guilty May 17 to the unclassified felony of statutory sodomy and the class E felony of unlawful use of a weapon for separate incidents involving different victims.

Greene County Circuit Judge Jerry Harmison sentenced Watson to 12 years in prison for the sodomy charge and four years for the weapons charge, with the sentences to be served concurrently.

Watson was charged in May 2020 with statutory sodomy and first-degree child molestation. The child molestation charge was later dropped as part of a plea deal.

According to charging documents, the victim was younger than 12 when she told investigators Watson abused her on two occasions.

The victim, who was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center in Springfield, revealed that Watson touched his genitals through his clothing. In another incident, the victim said Watson told her they were going to play a game, blindfolded her and forced her to perform a sex act, which caused her to vomit.

Watson initially denied the girl's allegations, but later told police he drank alcohol to the point of passing out one night and woke up feeling having done something to the girl.

According to online court records, Watson was granted bond and released from jail in March 2021. He had pleaded not guilty in the statutory sodomy case and was scheduled to stand trial in December 2022. The incident involving the weapon The fire occurred in November. 13, 2022.

According to probable cause in the 2022 case, Watson then got into an argument with his girlfriend over his stereo speakers moving. The victim told police Watson pushed her and injured her neck. The victim said she slapped Watson and he responded by pointing a 9mm handgun in her face.

Watson is in the Greene County Jail, awaiting transport to a Missouri Department of Corrections prison.