Greeneville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 11/14: The verdict is in for Sean Williams. The federal trial undertaken this week in East Tennessee for Williams who prompted a month-long manhunt after escaping custody in October of 2023.
The 55-year-old Williams found guilty on all counts after less than 30 minutes of jury deliberation Thursday in his child sex crimes trial.
Williams faces a minimum of 15 years on each count and a maximum of 30 years on each.
The former Johnson City businessman is charged with three federal counts of child sex crimes; specifically, court documents said he had several pictures and videos of minors that he assaulted in Johnson City.
Williams’ case also prompted a lawsuit against Johnson City, which claimed police officers knew about his crimes but never charged him.
The department has denied the allegations.
ORIGINAL STORY: After a series of delays and an eleventh-hour rejection of a plea deal Tuesday, the federal trial for child sex crimes suspect Sean Williams is underway in Greeneville.
The 55-year-old Williams led law enforcement on a manhunt after escaping custody in October of 2023 while being transported from Laurel County, Kentucky to Greeneville, Tennessee.
Williams was later taken into custody and charged with three federal counts of child sex crimes. Specifically, court documents said he had several pictures and videos of minors that he assaulted in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Apart from the charges Williams faces, his case also prompted a lawsuit against Johnson City, which claimed police officers knew about his crimes but never charged him. The department has denied the allegations.
