In a recent trial in Greeneville, Tennessee, a jury reached a verdict on Sean Williams’ case. He was found guilty of escaping from an inmate transport van but not guilty of attempting to break out of a jail. Sean Williams faces up to five years in prison for the escape conviction and is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 18.
Representing himself in court after parting ways with his defense attorneys, Williams faced frustration from the judge for veering off topic during the trial. While he did not contest his escape from the van, he claimed he was contesting his “lawful custody” during that time.
Williams had previously escaped from a van transporting him from Kentucky to federal court in Greeneville and was apprehended in Florida over a month later. He also faced charges of attempting to escape from the Washington County Detention Center, which he argued was not a substantial step toward escaping.
Williams will now proceed to a federal trial on Aug. 27 for charges of producing child sexual abuse material and faces additional charges in Tennessee for crimes such as child rape and aggravated sexual battery. In North Carolina, he is charged with possessing child sexual abuse images and illegal drugs.
Three federal lawsuits have been filed accusing the Johnson City Police Department of failing to investigate claims of sexual assault against Williams. The city and officers named in the lawsuits have denied allegations of corruption. Williams, in response to these allegations, claimed he was framed by law enforcement to conceal broader public corruption.
The former prosecutor’s lawsuit alleges police hindered efforts to arrest Williams, enabling him to escape. Williams was later arrested on a federal warrant after being found asleep in his car with illegal substances and digital storage devices containing images of child abuse and videos of him sexually assaulting women.
Following public outcry, Johnson City initiated an outside investigation into the handling of sexual assault cases by the police department. The investigation revealed shortcomings in the department’s investigations, leading to improvements in training, policies, and protocols related to sexual assault cases.
