ROCKINGHAM — A man convicted of first-degree murder more than 50 years ago could see life outside prison walls for the first time since 1990.
The N.C. Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission issued a notice on Oct. 21 announcing the possible release of 75-year-old Harold Legusta Watkins.
As long as he meets the requirements of the Mutual Agreement Parole Program, Watkins is scheduled for release on Aug. 6, 2029.
Watkins was initially convicted on Nov. 17, 1972 in the death of Lee Edward “Mule” Ingram, records show.
According to court records found online at casemine.com, Watkins shot Ingram in the face with a 12-gauge shotgun outside Potts’ Pool Room on Feb. 24, 1972.
Watkins testified that he had walked into the pool room — after drinking beer and wine at another establishment — and heard Ingram say, "Damn — that damn ass is here now."
Watkins then left the pool room and had another man take him to get a shotgun, with the intent of just talking to Ingram.
"I figured that was the only way I could talk to him to keep him away from me, to leave me alone," Watkins testified.
Earlier in his testimony, Watkins said that Ingram was with another man who had fired shots at his home. He also said his brother had told him that the two men were looking for him.
According to Watkins, he returned to the shotgun and found Ingram outside the pool hall in a car. He said he approached Ingram with the barrel pointed at the ground and asked why Ingram and the other man wanted to fight him.”
Watkins said that Ingram had lunged toward him and that he didn’t remember pulling the trigger.
A jury convicted Watkins of first-degree murder, which came with the death penalty. Records show Watkins appealed because the trial judge failed to inform the jury that a conviction would result in a mandatory death sentence.
The death penalty was reversed and Watkins was sentenced to life in prison.
According to the N.C. Department of Adult Correction, Watkins was first paroled in September of 1982 and returned to prison in July of 1983 when he was convicted of felony larceny and misdemeanor breaking and entering.
Watkins was paroled again in November of 1984, which was revoked in mid-1988, but he was released again several months later. A DAC spokesman said at some point, Watkins had been convicted in Maryland.
In 1990, Watkins was convicted on the following charges in Moore County: misdemeanor larceny; carrying a concealed weapon; resisting an officer; failing to obey police; possession of drug paraphernalia; and reckless driving.
He has been in prison since.
DAC records show Watkins has had 12 infractions during his time in prison:
According to the notice the Mutual Agreement parole program is a three-way agreement between the parole commission, the state prison system and the offender.
Offenders who committed crimes before Oct. 1, 1994 may be considered for the program, according to the DAC.
Eligible offenders include those who are within three years of parole and meet the following criteria:
Anyone with questions about the parole process is encouraged to call the commission at 919-716-3010.
DAC records show Watkins is currently incarcerated at Brown Creek Correctional Institution in Anson County.
