Owen Watson v. State of Arkansas

Summary

The court affirmed Watson’s child-rape conviction and life sentence, rejecting challenges to hearsay testimony, DNA authentication, jury selection, judicial recusal, and habitual-offender proof. It held that the officer’s account of the victim’s statement was admitted to explain the investigation, the State sufficiently established the DNA evidence’s authenticity, and the remaining alleged errors did not warrant relief. The court modified the sentencing order itself to correct a clerical omission showing Watson’s habitual-offender status.