Lookout in kidnapping case released

Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2000 | 9:42 a.m.

The lookout in the 1993 kidnapping of Kevyn Wynn will not have to return to prison for violating terms of his supervised release.

Anthony Watkins, 26, of Sacramento, Calif. appeared in U.S. District Court here Tuesday and was ordered released at the suggestion of probation officials. He was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison in 1994 and will be allowed to serve out the balance of his sentence under supervised release.

Watkins was the lookout man when two others kidnapped Kevyn Wynn, then released her after her father, Mirage Resorts Inc. Chairman Steve Wynn, paid a ransom of $1.45 million. About $1 million of the ransom has been recovered, according to authorities.

On Tuesday, Watkins appeared before Senior U.S. District Judge Lloyd George, the same judge who sentenced him in 1994. At the time, Watkins received a break on his sentence after pleading guilty to extortion-related charges and agreeing to testify against his co-defendants.

A Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman said Watkins was transferred in December 1998 from prison to a halfway house in California. The spokesman said Watkins was released from the halfway house June 4 and was under the supervision of authorities in California.

Scott Ballock, a U.S. probation officer, said the first urine test Watkins took while under supervision showed he had used marijuana.

When his probation officer tried to contact him to discuss the results, Ballock said, Watkins could not be found.

Watkins was arrested in California Dec. 13 on a charge of absconding from supervision and using an illegal controlled substance.

Assistant Federal Public Defender Jason Carr, who represented Watkins at Tuesday's hearing, described the violations as "very minor."

"He actually got back in touch with his probation officer before he was arrested," the attorney said.

George followed the recommendation of probation officials in allowing Watkins to serve out the remaining 2 1/2 years of his supervised release.

Prosecutors did not object to the recommendation, which calls for Watkins to spend up to three months under home confinement, during which time he will be allowed to leave his home for work.

Carr said he expected Watkins to return to Northern California.