Former Quorum Court candidate, NAACP officer arrested on drug charges

Former Quorum Court candidate, NAACP officer arrested on drug charges

Watkins facing counts of possession with intent in Shelby County

news@theeveningtimes.com

AWest Memphis former youth minister and current second vice president of the local NAACP chapter is facing multiple drug charges stemming from an arrest in Memphis.

Kyle Watkins, 47, was arrested Jan. 19 in Memphis and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, distribute, or sell.

He was released on $75,000 bond on Jan. 27.

Watkins lost a bid for a seat on the Crittenden County Quorum Court in 2016 and made headlines after he was involved in a brawl with West Memphis City Councilman Willis Mondy at a local youth center.

Watkins, a youth minister at Agape Love Church in West Memphis, was charged with second degree battery along with his wife, Katrina, following a fight with Mondy on Sept. 24, 2015.

The altercation occurred when Mondy went to the Agape Love Church on East Broadway where Watkins served at an after school tutoring and meal program.

The two argued over lack of after school programs at the L.R. Jackson Girls Club, the condition of the facility, and the handling of city funds appropriated for the club.

Watkins is a youth coach for Jaguar football.

He had previously tangled with Mondy during city council meetings and at an elementary school earlier in the day when things got physical.

The brawl turned in to a knock-down, drag-out affair with Mondy pulling dreds from Watkins’s scalp while also bruising his left eye. A pew was knocked over and the two tussled out the door.

Watkins ended up on top and called 911, Mondy injured his right leg and checked himself into a hospital after the fight. Mondy also accused Katrina Watkins of piling on and pummeling him toward the end of the scuffle.

Both men claimed the other started the altercation. The charges against Watkins were later dismissed. He was also found not guilty of an additional charge of criminal mischief. Mondy was found guilty and fined $200.

Watkins made the news again for requesting a recount in the March 2016 run-off election in which he narrowly lost the District 7 Justice of the Peace race to incumbent Ronnie Marconi.

Watkins edged Marconi 128-127 on the March 1 primary, but lost 74 to 52 in the run-off.

He filed for a recount in the run-off saying he wanted assurance that only Democrats who turned out in the primary the first time voted in the run off.

Polls were open only in the JP District 7 precincts, with voting restricted to those who had actually voted in the primary as Democrats, or, who had not cast ballots at all in the primary.

Votes were close in Edmondson, Anthonyville, and West Memphis, but Marconi pulled away when the votes from Horseshoe Lake arrived.

A felony conviction would likely put an end to Watkins’ future political aspirations and place his role with L.R. Jackson in jeopardy.

By the Evening Times News Staff