INMATE AT ROCKLAND COUNTY JAIL CONVICTED ON MULTIPLE CHARGES
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced today that Darius Williams, 34 of Spring Valley, New York was convicted after a two-day non-jury trial presided over by the Honorable Kevin Russo of six felony counts, stemming from criminal conduct by the defendant on four separate occasions in 2023 while confined in the Rockland County Jail.
On January 11, 2023, Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections officers conducted a cell search of the cell belonging to the defendant. During the search, a white shank with a metal tip was discovered in the jail-issued jacket belonging to the defendant. The item is considered contraband within a correctional facility and the defendant was found guilty of Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree.
On February 15, 2023, a Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections officer was assigned to escort the defendant to his cell. The Sheriff’s Corrections officer removed the defendant’s handcuffs and gave him verbal commands to put his hands on the wall. Immediately after the defendant’s handcuffs were fully removed, the defendant ran towards the corrections officer and intentionally punched him in the face. There was a struggle where the defendant continued to resist corrections officers. During the struggle, a Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections Sergeant was injured and treated for his injury at a local hospital. He remained out of work for several months due to his injury. The defendant was convicted of two counts of Assault in the Second Degree utilizing two different sections of the penal law.
On February 17, 2023, Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections officers responded to the defendant’s cell to fix his broken cell door. Immediately after corrections officers were able to get the defendant’s door open, the defendant punched one officer in the face and lunged at the other. There was a struggle where the defendant continued to resist Correction officers. During the struggle, a Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections Sergeant was injured and treated at a local hospital. The Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections Sergeant remained out of work for several months due to his injury. The defendant was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree.
On July 31, 2023, while confined at the Rockland County Jail, the defendant was changing into civilian clothes for a court appearance when a Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections officer observed an object bulging from the defendant’s sock. A search of the defendant uncovered a screw wrapped in a ripped shirt and toilet paper in that sock. The item is considered a weapon and prison contraband within a correctional facility. The defendant was found guilty of Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree.
Rockland County District Attorney Walsh said, “The defendant in this case while incarcerated at the Rockland County Jail has on multiple occasions attacked and injured Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections officers. The defendant has now been convicted and he will be held fully accountable for his actions.”
Darius Willams was convicted of the following charges:
1 count of Promoting Prison Contraband in the 1st Degree (D Felony)
1 count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree (D Felony)
2 counts of Assault in the 2nd Degree (D Felony)
1 count of Assault in the 2nd Degree (D Felony)
1 count of Promoting Prison Contraband in the 1st Degree (D Felony)
The defendant is scheduled for sentencing on March 13, 2024 and faces up to seven years in state prison on each count of Assault in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, and Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree. Williams is currently incarcerated as a sentenced prisoner in a state correctional facility following a jury trial in July of 2023, where he was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon stemming from an unprovoked assault upon a stranger on a street in the Village of Haverstraw.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Nicole Garcia and Senior Assistant District Attorney Emily McNiff prosecuted the case.
