NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On Thursday, officials from a Tennessee city reached an agreement to pay a sum of $28 million to settle a lawsuit involving allegations that the police department mishandled investigations into a suspect accused of assaulting numerous women. This settlement, pending approval from a federal judge, aims to resolve the case initiated by women using the pseudonym “Jane Doe” against the city and specific officers concerning allegations against Sean Williams dating from 2018 to 2021.
City officials and law enforcement have consistently denied claims of wrongdoing. Prior to the settlement vote by commissioners, a city attorney highlighted the potential financial implications of continuing the litigation. Commissioner Jenny Brock emphasized that the victims should bear no blame for the situation, asserting that Williams is solely responsible for the harm caused.
Currently incarcerated for offenses related to child sexual abuse and a prison escape earlier this year, Williams has not faced criminal charges specifically linked to the women’s claims. The lawsuit encompasses a class of up to 400 women, including minors, who reported incidents of sexual abuse or trafficking to the Johnson City Police between 2018 and December 2022, citing allegations of systemic gender discrimination, according to Jonathan Lakey, the city’s attorney. He also noted that some of the settlement costs would be covered by insurance.
According to Vanessa Baehr-Jones, attorney for the plaintiffs, this settlement provides a sense of closure and allows these women to start their healing process. She remarked on the difficulties these women have faced, stating that their journey was painful but ultimately led to a positive outcome.
This lawsuit is one of three that claim the Johnson City Police Department inadequately investigated evidence suggesting Williams had been drugging and assaulting women in the area for several years. Williams has publicly stated that he is being framed by law enforcement in an attempt to obscure a larger public corruption issue.
Another federal lawsuit was filed by a former federal prosecutor alongside a woman who fell from Williams’ apartment window. The allegations in the Jane Doe lawsuit contend that Williams colluded with police to obstruct investigations into the sexual assault claims against him. Additionally, the former prosecutor accused the police of negligence in thwarting her attempts to arrest Williams on a federal charge, ultimately allowing him to evade capture until his arrest in North Carolina two years later.
Defense attorneys for the officers implicated in the Jane Doe lawsuit have countered that the officers acted appropriately and that their efforts contributed to Williams’ eventual arrest and conviction. As part of the settlement process, the plaintiffs are anticipated to affirm that there was substantial risk involved in proving accusations related to corruption, bribery, and obstruction of justice concerning sex trafficking and other charges.
The attorneys for the officers expressed hope that this settlement would allow all involved parties, especially the victims and the officers falsely accused, to move forward and begin the healing process.
In 2023, a campus police officer from Western Carolina University discovered Williams asleep in his car while he was evading authorities. Reports indicate that his vehicle contained narcotics, a large sum of cash, and digital devices holding over 5,000 images of child sexual abuse. Furthermore, there were explicit materials showing him sexually assaulting at least 52 women in an unconscious state in his Johnson City apartment.
Evidence revealed that the names listed in folders of these videos matched those featured on a previously discovered list labeled “Raped” found in Williams’ residence. After being charged for possession of child sexual abuse images, Williams escaped custody in October 2023 during a transport to a hearing but was apprehended in Florida over a month later.
In July, he was found guilty of the escape, facing a maximum sentence of five years in prison. In November, he received a conviction for the child sexual abuse charges, subjecting him to a minimum of 15 years for each of the three counts, with sentencing scheduled for February 24.
Additionally, Williams faces further sexual-related charges involving minors in Tennessee state court and faces federal charges in North Carolina regarding child sexual abuse images and illegal drugs.
In response to the widespread concerns, Johnson City initiated an independent investigation that revealed significant shortcomings in the police department’s handling of sexual assault cases. The investigation documented issues such as ineffective investigations, poor record management, inadequate training, and instances of gender bias. City officials reported that prior to these findings, efforts were underway to enhance the department’s practices, including the establishment of a new protocol for sexual assault investigations and providing a more supportive environment for victim interviews.
