A man who used his real name and residential address to mail pornographic materials to three members of the Alabama House of Representatives and the governor yesterday has been apprehended and booked into the Houston County Jail without bond, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency confirmed on Thursday.
John Watson, 54, of Dothan, was taken into custody Wednesday morning and charged with four counts of Dissemination of Child Pornography. Authorities say additional charges are possible as the investigation continues.
A fourth letter was sent to Governor Kay Ivey in addition to three Republican state lawmakers, ALEA reports.
House Clerk John Treadwell quickly alerted lawmakers Wednesday morning after receiving reports of the explicit mailings, instructing members not to open any envelopes resembling those sent by Watson and to turn them over to security. A photo of the envelope was circulated to assist with identification.
Watson, a former Driver License Examiner with ALEA’s Driver License Division, was placed on mandatory leave following his arrest. On Thursday, he submitted his resignation in lieu of termination, the agency said.
The letters were reportedly sent to State Reps. David Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook), Susan DuBose (R-Hoover), and Ben Robbins (R-Sylacauga).
Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) quickly condemned the incident.
“These packages have been handed over to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation. I appreciate all that ALEA does to protect members of the Legislature and have full faith in the agency’s ability to conduct a thorough investigation into this unfortunate matter.”
No members of the Alabama Senate were targeted. ALEA said the investigation remains active.
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
