THE FOLLOWING IS A VERMILION COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE RELEASE
People v. Amadius Watson 2026-CF-721
On September 17, 2026, Amadius Watson (DOB: 8/3/1973), formerly of Danville, Illinois, pleaded guilty to two counts of Aggravated Battery to a Child, both class 3 felonies. Following her term of imprisonment, the defendant will serve 6 months of mandatory supervised release and will be required to register under the Illinois Violent Offender Against Youth Registry.
The plea and sentencing were presided over by Judge Karen E. Wall. The People presented evidence that on September 19, 2025, three students at a local school were suspected of being victims of abuse due to visible injuries. Officers with the Danville Police Department conducted interviews of the minor victims, along with school staff and investigators with the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services. It was determined that Amadius Watson, the grandmother of the minor victims, hit the children with a cord wrapped in tape. The children’s injuries included scarring on various parts of their bodies, consistent with their statements to police. Through the investigation, police also determined that the defendant would lock the minor victims in the basement, only allowing them out of the basement to go to school, which had occurred the night before the initial police report.
State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy thanked the Danville Police Department, the Department of Child and Family Services, the school staff, and the Vermilion County Child Advocacy Center, for their collaborative work in this investigation. State’s Attorney Lacy said, “Children deserve to feel safe, especially in the care of their family members. This defendant’s actions, causing harm to her own grandchildren, represents a serious breach of trust. This sentence holds the defendant accountable and reinforces the commitment of my office, and our continued work with law enforcement, to protect our most vulnerable citizens and to pursue justice on their behalf.”
