LOS ANGELES : Judge Gives Good Report on Riot Figure Watson

Henry Watson, who is serving three years’ probation for his role in riot-related activities at Florence and Normandie avenues on April 29, 1992, is doing “very well,” a judge said Friday.

Superior Court Judge John Ouderkirk put Watson, who was in court Friday for a hearing on his progress, on probation until Jan. 7, 1997.

Ouderkirk, a former policeman, said he is pleased with Watson.

“Mr. Watson has a very favorable report,” said Ouderkirk, who presided over the trial of Watson and co-defendant Damian Monroe Williams. “The defendant is trying to get employment and he’s agreed to pay (restitution) once he gets a job.”

Ouderkirk had ordered Watson to make restitution to his victims and to perform 320 hours of community service, all of it on a Caltrans work crew. Watson’s probation officer also indicated that Watson has “expressed remorse for the events and is in general doing very well.”

Watson was convicted of a misdemeanor and pleaded guilty to one felony count last year for taking part in beatings as rioting broke out after the not guilty verdicts in the trial of four LAPD officers accused of beating Rodney G. King.

Williams is serving a 10-year state prison term for his attack on truck driver Reginald O. Denny, who was beaten as the nation watched on live television.