Jury finds accused child rapist not guilty

NEWKIRK — A jury found Jamahl Ahmid Pate, 51, Blackwell, not guilty of first degree rape of a juvenile under the age of 14 and lewd molestation.

Pate, and Brenda Lynn Waterdown, 42, both of Blackwell, were arrested on July, 1 2021. (see story)

A warrant remains issued for Christopher Wayne Laviolette, 38, Blackwell, who is facing charges of first degree rape of a juvenile under the age 14, first degree rape by instrumentation, lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16, performing lewd act in presence of a minor and forcible sodomy. Bond is endorsed at $250,000.

In the affidavit, Blackwell police report that both Pate and Laviolette are accused of raping a child repeatedly and that Waterdown is accused of walking in on the abuse and not calling police.

The alleged victim reported the abuse to police at the age of 15 and claims that the abuse started when she was a small child. The juvenile reportedly told police she was first abused in Wichita, Kan. by Laviolette and that the second time occurred in Blackwell by Pate.

Blackwell police Lt. Jay Brewer reports in the affidavit that the juvenile makes it very clear in a video interview that she has been raped numerous times and that she stated Waterdown walked in on the abuse at least two times.

Following the jury’s verdict the case against Pate is now dismissed.

On Nov. 22, Waterdown entered no contest pleas to charges of enabling child sexual abuse, failure to report child abuse and two counts of child abuse.

She was sentenced to 15 years in prison with all but one-year in the county jail deferred and ordered to register as a sex offender. On Aug. 2 a bench warrant was issued for her arrest and an application to revoke the suspended sentence was issued after she reportedly violated her parole.

On Sept. 14, Waterdown was booked into the county jail and later released on bond. She is scheduled for an initial appearance on Sept. 23.

A warrant remains issued for Christopher Wayne Laviolette, 38, Blackwell, who is facing charges of first degree rape of a juvenile under the age 14, first degree rape by instrumentation, lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16, performing lewd act in presence of a minor and forcible sodomy. Bond is endorsed at $250,000.