INMATE AT ROCKLAND COUNTY JAIL SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR MULTIPLE CHARGES
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced today that Darius Williams, 35 of Spring Valley, New York was sentenced to two consecutive 7-year terms in state prison for two separate felony assaults on Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections officers. This sentence was imposed by the Honorable Kevin F. Russo after a two-day non-jury trial in Rockland County Criminal Court which took place in December of 2023. Williams was sentenced as a predicate violent felony offender to serve a total of 14 years. These sentences will run consecutively to a 7-year state prison sentence which Williams is currently serving for a prior felony assault conviction in which the defendant attacked an individual on the street with a weapon.
The incidents which were the subject of the latest trial stemmed from criminal conduct committed by Williams while confined in the Rockland County Jail on four separate dates in 2023: January 11th, February 15th, February 17th, and July 31st. In addition to the sentence imposed on the two felony counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Williams was also convicted after trial of four additional felony counts. Specifically, Williams was convicted of two counts of Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree, one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, and one additional count of Assault in the Second Degree. The defendant was sentenced by Judge Russo to state prison sentences on each of these felony charges to run concurrently to the imposed 14- year sentence.
The facts of each incident are as follows:
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.
District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II said, “The defendant in this case while incarcerated for a violent crime assaulted Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections officers on multiple occasions, causing serious injuries. We value the safety of correction officers, all law enforcement, and all people. This type of violence cannot be tolerated in a democratic society. The defendant will now face a lengthy state prison sentence and will be held fully accountable for his actions.”
Martin Fogarty, COBARC President said, “On behalf of the Corrections Officers Benevolent Association of Rockland County (COBARC), I would like to thank District Attorney Tom Walsh and his staff for all of their hard work on this case.
We would also like to thank Judge Russo for his sentence in this matter whereby he sent a message that this type of violence perpetrated on our members won’t be tolerated.
The work done by the membership of COBARC is thankless and very often goes unnoticed. The job can be extremely dangerous as we deal with the most violent members of society day in and day out, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred sixty-five days a year.
It is comforting to know that the District Attorney's Office and the courts have our back when we have to deal with violent incarcerated individuals like Darius Williams.”
The defendant is currently serving a 7-year sentence for a conviction of Assault in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a weapon in the Third Degree stemming from an unprovoked attack up on a stranger on a street in the Village of Haverstraw for which he was convicted of in July of 2023.
Following the Honorable Kevin F. Russo’s sentence on March 13, 2024, the defendant will now serve an additional 14 years in state prison for his crimes.
The case was prosecuted by Supervising Assistant District Attorney Nicole Garcia and Senior Assistant District Attorney Emily McNiff.
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