JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Matthew Watson grew up in a big home in a nice Westside neighborhood. Most people living on his block know each other so they all heard immediately when he was arrested for raping a teenage girl.
"It was shocking because I didn't think he would do something like this, says neighbor Todd Barrow.
He has talked with Watson several times over the years and describes Watson as a "nice guy." But police say last week, Watson grabbed a teenage girl while she was walking to the bus stop, on her way to school. Then he took her into a wooded area off 103rd and Connie Jean Road and raped her at gunpoint.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was able to match Watson's DNA to DNA found at the crime scene. His DNA was already in the system because Watson is a convicted felon.
In 2007, Watson was arrested for grand theft auto. The next year, he was arrested for burglary and convicted of DUI. Last year, Watson was sentenced to a year probation for battery. According to a police report, he got into a fight with his father and bit him.
Now Watson is charged with the most serious charges yet, kidnapping, armed sexual assault and armed robbery.
