GUNTERSVILLE — Guntersville City Councilman Robert Sanchez Watkins was found not guilty of harassment charges on Tuesday.
Former Republican candidate for House District 27 Billy Ray Todd accused Watkins of trying to bar him from an NAACP town hall meeting in Guntersville on Nov. 2, 2023, and threatening to call police and the FBI to arrest him if he tried to attend.
Watkins, who represented himself in court, said he never threatened Todd or that he would have him arrested. However, he admitted to calling Todd and trying to convince him not to attend the meeting.
Watkins said many parents were afraid of Todd due to his behavior during a previous NAACP meeting on October 3 and the alleged threatening statements Todd made online. Watkins claimed Todd was “yelling and screaming” during that meeting and shouted insults at parents and their children. He also claimed Todd made a video post on X where he threatened to “send in the troops” and stop the next meeting from happening.
Todd denied that he acted inappropriately on October 3 and said he was only there to voice his opinion that two teachers and a coach at Guntersville City Schools were being falsely accused of racism and to speak out against the NAACP’s and the Southern Poverty Law Center’s efforts to inject critical race theory and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) into the Guntersville school system.
After making multiple attempts to submit the X video of Todd into evidence, Judge Chris Able allowed Watkins to play the video in court. Watkins argued that the statements made in the video to “rally the troops” were threatening, but Todd claims he had no ill intent. Watkins further claimed the video proved Todd had lied on the stand and that “he went back on his story several times.”
After hearing Watkins' and Todd’s testimony, Judge Able found Watkins not guilty of making harassing communications based on the State’s inability to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. However, the judge cautioned Watkins to be mindful of his interactions with citizens, given the power of his public office.
“I’m glad the judge listened to all the evidence. I’m glad that I was found not guilty,” Watkins told 1819 News following the trial. “Mr. Todd is a threat. He’s a threat to what we were trying to do. He was a threat to the parents, the NAACP, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and we’re just not going to allow that… I never made a threat of calling the FBI or having him arrested. Only thing I asked of him was, if you’re going to come, come and do like everyone else. Be civil about it. But then he was asked not to come because of threats he made about calling in the troops. It made people fear for their life.”
Todd declined to comment on the judge's ruling. However, after the court adjourned, Todd’s wife made a passing remark to Watkins as she exited the courtroom, accusing him of being a liar. Able called Mrs. Todd back into the courtroom and reprimanded her for her comments. He said he could hold her in contempt of court for five days, but he let her off with a warning.
To connect with the story's author or comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com or find him on X and Facebook.
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