WASHINGTON MAN SENTENCED TO 50 YEARS FOR MULTIPLE FAMILY VIOLENCE CHARGES
(Washington Co. Jail)
A Washington County man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to seven felony offenses, including several family violence charges.
60-year-old Clarence Williams, Jr. of Old Washington pleaded guilty on Monday to offenses including Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, two counts of Assault on a Family Member with Previous Conviction, Assault by Strangulation, two counts of Burglary of a Habitation, and Evading Arrest.
Williams was sentenced after a hearing Wednesday with Judge Carson Campbell.
Due to Williams’ extensive criminal history, all but one of the charges were enhanced to Habitual Offender status, with a punishment range of 25-99 years or life in prison, but by agreement the punishment range was set at 25-50 years. One of the charges, Evading Arrest with a Previous Conviction, was enhanced to a punishment range of 2-20 years in prison.
The charged offenses spanned a period of December 25, 2019 to Williams’ arrest date of July 13, 2020. They were investigated by both the Brenham Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
At the hearing, the victim in the case testified to all of the instances of abuse that were charged. According to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, she described over a year’s worth of violence that had escalated from black eyes to strangulation, and finally to being held at knifepoint and threatened with death.
The State also presented evidence of Williams’ criminal history, specifically 13 prior felony convictions, multiple misdemeanors, and pending charges of Tampering with a Witness. Evidence was also provided by a forensic nurse from Baylor Scott & White and a former deputy who was nearly stabbed by Williams 18 years ago.
During closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Lauren Haevischer asked for the maximum sentence on all counts, citing the "trail of victims leading us here today." After the hearing, she said, "It takes immeasurable bravery to come forward as a victim of domestic violence. In this case, that bravery will protect the public from Clarence Williams, likely for the rest of his life."