HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. — The mother of a 15-year-old who was the victim of rape resulting in three separate pregnancies has been arrested.
According to investigators, the 36-year-old knew her daughter was being raped by 44-year-old William Watson and was even physically abusive towards her.
The mother denied knowing how her daughter got pregnant and who the father was.
All she would admit was she had prior knowledge that Watson was a registered sex offender.
The investigation began back in January 2016 when an anonymous tip was received by the police department stating child abuse was happening inside the Helena-West Helena home.
In February, Watson was interviewed by police but denied having any type of involvement with the teen.
Several weeks later, investigators discovered the child was 7-months pregnant with her third child.
DHS and investigators removed the child, her two children, and two other sisters from the home.
Police say the teen told them her mother was physically abusive toward her and knew she had been raped.
The girl was also not allowed to go to school.
Watson was arrested on July 24 and is charged with rape.
The mother was arrested on July 26 and charged with three counts of permitting abuse to a minor, endangering the welfare of an incompetent person and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Her bond was set at $101,000.
Police Chief Virgil Green said, “This young child isn’t old enough to drive a car get a driver license, but she has three children. Too many people knew what was going on with this family but failed to come forward and report it, those individuals let this young lady down.”
Green said had it not been for the anonymous tip, no arrests would have been made.