10-year sentence for home invasion, burglary, and theft after three-day trial
On 7/2/16 Covington Police were called to a house in the 2000 block of Greenup Street for a robbery. Mr. & Mrs. Gary Ballman Sr. reported to police that two masked men broke into their house while armed with guns. Though they wore masks, the victims recognized one of the intruders as Walter Williams by his stature and voice. The victims said the men demanded pain pills. During the robbery, shots were fired and one of the men struck the male victim in the head with a gun. The men fled the scene with a lockbox used by the victims to store their medication. The female victim told police Walter Williams would have known she had prescription narcotics because she received a ride to the pharmacy from a female relative of Williams who was on the phone with Williams at the time of the ride. Investigators recovered bullet projectiles and shell casings in the residence.
Hours later on the same date, Covington Police were called to the 500 block of Oliver Street for a man passed out on the sidewalk with a gun. Responding officers found Walter Williams unconscious, surrounded by loose marijuana and various pills strewn about. Officers also recovered a .380 KelTec handgun from Williams’ clothing. After being awoken by officers, Williams initially denied ownership of the gun, then later claimed it was a family heirloom, only to later say he bought it off an unidentified male in Bellevue. Not surprisingly, the gun was found to be reported stolen. Williams was arrested by Officer Kyle Shepard and charged with Receiving Stolen Property (firearm) and Possession of a Controlled Substance (oxycodone). After ballistics tests matched the projectiles from the robbery and burglary to the gun found with Williams, Detective Sgt. Brian Kane obtained a warrant for Williams’ arrest, charging him with 1st Degree Burglary and 1st Degree Robbery.
Williams was indicted in 2016 on the drug and stolen property charges but later failed to appear for court, causing a warrant to be issued and the case to be delayed. After the ballistics test results were received, Williams was also indicted for robbery and burglary in 2017.
On 11/27/18 the case was called for trial in the Kenton Circuit Court. Asst. Commonwealth’s Attorneys Aaron Levinson and Heather Humble presented evidence and testimony from numerous witnesses including the victims, police, and expert scientists from the Kentucky State Police Crime Lab. At the conclusion of the three- day trial, Williams was found guilty of all charges. After a sentencing phase of the trial, the jury recommended a sentencing of 10 years in prison. Williams must serve 8 1/2 years before being eligible for parole due to being a violent offender.
On 1/7/19 Williams appeared before the court again for formal, final sentencing. After hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Bartlett followed the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Williams to 10 years in prison.
Posted on Friday, January 11th, 2019 @ 11:11AM
Categories: Press Room
