On October 8th, 2002, Timothy Williams Jr. was tried in a bench trial before the Honorable Louis R. Lerner, Judge of the Hampton Circuit Court on 5 counts of robbery in violation of VA code 18.2-58; (4) counts of use of a firearm in the commission of robbery in violation of VA code 18.2-53.1 At the sentencing hearing on Decembr 13th, 2002, Judge Lerner sentenced the 16 year old Williams to 40 years imprisonment with 37 years suspended on each of the 5 robbery convictions. Judge Lerner sentenced Williams to 3 years in prison for the first use of firearm conviction and 5 years in Prison for each of the other (3) use of firearm convictions. In sum, 16 year old Williams was sentenced to 218 years in prison with 185 years suspended. On December 30th 2002, Williams filed a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeals of Virginia. Although Williams's sentencing guidelines called for Judge Lerner to modify his prison term due to being a juvenile charged as an adult with no harm or violence committed to his victims of the robberies, Judge Lerner went above the guidelines and gave Williams a 33 year prison term which requires 85% to be completed. On October 31st, 2005, Williams's appeals were denied.
As of today, Williams has completed many positive classes such as "Victims Awareness", "Inside Out Dads", "Thinking for a Change", "Why Change" and many more. He has also gotten his GED and Remained violence free inside the prison system and currently scores a 4 on his Department of Corrections Inmate Classification Custody Rating.
With both of Williams codefendants already being released and were convicted of the very same crimes, Williams asks that he too be part of the community as an adult, and hopes to gain your support by signing this petition for our governor to witness the beliefe we all share that he's learned his lesson and has paid his debt to society. Williams is a loving father, son, brother, and friend; and is appreciate of your support.
