JOHNSTON COUNTY – A sexual assault survivor is speaking out about the abuse she encountered as a child.
Dr. Renee’ Watson released a statement following the conviction of her father, 78-year-old David Ricky Godwin Sr. of Selma. Godwin pleaded guilty to and admitted his guilt to five counts of crimes against nature involving a child.
In September 2021, following an 11-month investigation by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, Godwin was arrested and charged with 25 counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.
The case was set for trial on April 28, 2025. At the last minute, David Ricky Godwin Sr. pleaded guilty the same day to sexual crimes against his own daughter 50 years ago.
Godwin was sentenced to 32-1/2 years in prison, but under the agreement with the State the sentence was suspended, and he was placed on supervised probation for five years.
The survivor, Dr. Renee’ Watson, suffered the abuse from ages 8-13 during in the 1970s.
Dr. Watson disclosed the abuse in 1992 to the District Attorney but was pressured not to pursue the matter further at that time.
Dr. Watson was motivated to come forward again in 2020 because having treated victims of child abuse and her concern for other potentially abused children, she felt like she had a responsibility to seek justice despite the age of the case.
“Adults who use children to gratify their own sexual desires are among the weakest and lowest of humanity,” Dr Watson said in a prepared statement. “When a father violates the trust and innocence of his own child, no judicial process should EVER stand in the way of prosecution.”
“The week before trial, David Ricky Godwin Sr. sent private investigators to contact his grandchildren and tried to compel them into court by subpoenaing them. I believe this was an act of harassment. Once again, this pedophile tried to hide his sadistic crimes though fear and intimidation of children. I asked the state to accept his guilty plea to protect these innocent children,” Dr. Watson said.
“To the many victims of child sexual abuse, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! I pray for our healing daily. Let your pain, shame, and confusion become your power. As survivors, know that we always have the opportunity to decide the end of our story. I am grateful to ADA Paul Jackson for walking through this five year journey of fire with me! Signed a serotinous pinecone, Renee’ Watson M.D.”
Assistant District Attorney Jackson said, “The State is pleased with the outcome because it sends the message that when it comes to child sexual abuse, justice never has an expiration date. The District Attorney’s Office is very grateful to Dr. Watson and former Johnston County Sheriff’s Detective Charlotte Fournier for their willingness to pursue justice despite extraordinary obstacles. The District Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively prosecute and battle child sexual predators in our community regardless of the date of offense.”
If you are the victim of a sexual assault you can contact local authorities. Resources are available at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) through the National Sexual Assault Hotline. For help call 800-656-HOPE or visit online.rainn.org.
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Editor’s Note: Johnston County Report has a policy not to release the names of sexual assault victims. In this case, the victim wanted to be identified and her story told in hopes of helping other victims.
Thank you Dr. Renee Watson for having the courage and the strength to speak out from many of us victims. Thank you for being our voice….. We love you Dr. Renee Watson. That is why you’re our primary care physician because you care and you take care of us and we love you and we’re proud of you
Another slap on the wrist! How does this happen “Godwin was sentenced to 32-1/2 years in prison, but under the agreement with the State the sentence was suspended, and he was placed on supervised probation for five years.” He sexually assaulted a child, his daughter and he gets probation. Again the good ole joco boy club. Dear God, justice for all his crimes and may they continue to come out!
Inch High PI, so this tells me that in 1993 when my daughter was molested by ** ******* ** ***, we can go back! I had Social Services, had her checked, stayed with a friend for a week, got a gun permit, and the last thing I was told by the detective was “He refused a lie detector test”. Naturally, his wife went back to him 2 days later.
She obviously knew it!
I just want to know if I can go back and get justice for my daughter! My heart has always hurt but I can’t even imagine what her heart feels like.
Assistant District Attorney Jackson said, “The State is pleased with the outcome because it sends the message that when it comes to child sexual abuse, justice never has an expiration date“. Or punishment. Seriously ………………probation?
Looks like the message it sends is..
“We can make a deal for you”
Makes me sick. What if it were their child? I bet you would hear and see a much different outcome.
Thank -you Dr. Watson for having the courage to speak out after so many years. Although I do not know you, I did know Mr.Godwin. My heart goes out to you. I’m so sorry that you had to go thru this. You are so compassionate to others and for this I respect you so much. Keep fighting for future victims and be their voice. I pray that God will be with you and bless you greatly in the years to come. Thank-you!
He has to meet the wrath of God, he may be free here but his long suffering is obvious evidently in his face, look at his health,
If it was a drug charge, it would be much tougher. His reputation is ruined and the community now knows what a sexually depraved, demonic, less than human predator that he is.
Dr. Renee Watson, you are a shining beacon of hope for the all too many child victims who are currently dealing with this torment or the adult survivors who struggle with it daily.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF OUR “GOOD OLD BOY” SYSTEM!!! PROBATION!! WHAT AT CROCK! YOU WILL NEVER CONVINCE ME POLITICS AND “GOOD OLD BOY” SYSTEM NOT ALIVE AND WELL IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM TODAY AS WELL AS BACK IN “1992”. DR. WATSON, YOUR COURAGE SPEAKS VOLUMES!!
He is almost 80 years old and in very poor health. He has no quality of life and putting him in prison just requires that taxpayers pay for his care and upkeep. It is public that he was guilty! That’s enough for me without having to pay for his care and upkeep. He probably has “friends” in prison anyway. I don’t think he has many on the outside anymore.
That’s a crock of …. The godwins think there above the law in joco . Just proves it
Now do Dickie Braswell.
Who’s next?