Akron - Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that visiting retired Judge Janet Burnside sentenced Jesse Williams, 34, of Morningview Avenue in Akron, to 11 years in prison. The Summit County Prosecutor’s Office requested the maximum sentence of 22 years in prison.
On June 21, 2019 a Summit County jury found Williams guilty of the following charges:
- Rape – a felony of the 1st degree
- Burglary – a felony of the 2nd degree
- Tampering with Evidence – a felony of the 3rd degree
- Attempted Burglary – a felony of the 3rd degree
“I am so proud of the survivor. She showed tremendous strength and courage in standing up to the defendant and telling the judge how this assault has impacted her,” said Prosecutor Walsh. “People who prey on the disabled need to be held accountable for their actions. My office works hard to do just that.”
On December 3, 2018, Williams forced his way into the home of the 62-year-old victim and demanded money. When the victim, who is developmentally disabled, refused to give Williams any money, he dragged her into a bedroom where he raped her. Following the assault, Williams then attempted to clean up any evidence of the crime. After Williams left, the victim went to a neighbor, who called police.
During the investigation, officers discovered Williams had attempted to break into a nearby apartment eleven days later.
During the trial and at the sentencing hearing, Avery, the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office facility dog, sat with the victim as she testified and provided her victim impact statement. As a facility dog in the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, Avery’s primary job is to provide emotional support to children, as well as adults with developmental disabilities, who are either victims or witnesses to crime. Since coming to the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office in August of 2013, Avery has been involved in nearly 180 cases, assisting over 225 victims.
Photo courtesy of the Summit County Prosecutor
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