Hanahan police detective's bond reduced

Watson has been in jail on rape charges since Aug. 3

Bail was reduced from $325,000 to $50,000 Tuesday for a Hanahan police detective who's been in jail since Aug. 3 on allegations that he held an acquaintance against her will and raped her at gunpoint.

North Charleston police arrested Cassie Watson, 40, on charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. Watson has been in the Charleston County Detention Center ever since.

Watson will have to post 10 percent of the $50,000 bail, his attorney, Danny Martin, said after a preliminary and bond reduction hearing before Charleston County Magistrate James Gosnell Jr.

Gosnell denied Martin's request to dismiss charges. Martin argued there was no evidence to corroborate the 37-year-old woman's allegations. A North Charleston police detective said the rape kit has been sent to the State Law Enforcement Division lab. Martin said after the hearing that Watson and the woman had dated and had consensual sex.

The detective said Watson was arrested based on the woman's statement and her identification of him in a photographic lineup and agreed under questioning by Martin there was no evidence to corroborate that the alleged crimes occurred.

Watson was suspended with pay after his arrest.

Read more in tomorrow's editions of The Post and Courier.