A Virginia woman, aged 37, is facing charges of indecency following her arrest this week. The charges stem from her alleged inappropriate relationships with a pair of 15-year-old twin boys, one of whom was found hiding in her home. The woman, identified as Ashleigh Watts, was initially apprehended in July when police arrived at her Chesapeake residence in search of the missing teenager.
According to court documents, Watts requested the officers to wait outside her home while she dressed and attended to her dogs. However, upon entering the house, the police discovered a young male, clad only in boxer briefs, concealed in a small space under a mattress in an upstairs bedroom. The boy confirmed his identity and presented his Learner’s Permit when questioned by the officers.
Watts was initially charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. However, following further investigation, her charges have been updated to include three counts of indecency with a minor. These charges are related to the alleged inappropriate relationships she maintained with the twin boys.
The twins, who were friends with Watts’ son and lived across the street from her, were reportedly targeted by Watts for over a year before her arrest. The investigation into Watts began when an anonymous tipster reported a suspected sexual relationship between her and the boys in February.
In a shocking revelation, Watts’ husband reportedly found his wife topless on their couch with one of the teenagers, who was pretending to be asleep. The boy later told his parents that he had visited Watts’ home to smoke marijuana and had fallen asleep on the couch.
The two families, who were close friends and had an open-door policy, were unaware of the alleged abuse. The boys’ parents believed their sons were frequently visiting the Watts’ home to spend time with her son. However, behind closed doors, Watts was allegedly sexually and emotionally manipulating the teenagers.
One of the boys confided in a neighbor about the abuse, revealing that he had been involved with Watts since June 2022. He also claimed that they were in love and planned to marry once he turned 17, after Watts divorced her husband.
Following the exposure of the alleged 13-month-long relationship, the teenager ran away from home and was found hiding in Watts’ bedroom three weeks later. His twin brother also admitted to investigators that Watts would invite him over to smoke marijuana and give him her underwear. He further claimed that she touched him inappropriately despite his objections.
Both the teenagers’ parents and Watts’ husband have filed protective orders against her. Court documents reveal that large amounts of cash, marijuana, and a prepaid cell phone were found following her arrest. If convicted, Watts could face up to 30 years in prison.