NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In a pivotal decision on Thursday, a Tennessee city has agreed to a $28 million settlement in a lawsuit alleging that local police mishandled investigations related to a suspect accused of drugging and sexually assaulting numerous women.
Pending federal approval, the settlement resolves claims made by women, using “Jane Doe” pseudonyms, against the city and specific police officers from incidents occurring between 2018 and 2021 involving Sean Williams.
City officials have consistently denied any allegations of wrongdoing. Prior to the settlement vote, a city attorney indicated the financial implications of continuing litigation were significant.
Commissioner Jenny Brock emphasized, “Johnson City does not blame these victims whatsoever. It was Sean Williams that is to blame for all of this.”
Williams is currently incarcerated for producing child sexual abuse images and escaping from a police transport vehicle in 2023, yet he has not faced criminal charges related to the women’s accusations.
The lawsuit’s broader settlement class includes up to 400 women, including minors, who reported sexual abuse or trafficking to the Johnson City Police from 2018 to December 2022. The settlement has been partially backed by insurance funding, according to city attorneys.
Vanessa Baehr-Jones, an attorney for the plaintiffs, noted that this settlement brings a degree of closure and healing for the victims. “It has been a painful journey for these women; however, it has ultimately led to a successful and empowering end,” she stated.
This lawsuit is one amongst three that challenge the Johnson City Police Department’s failure to adequately investigate evidence of Williams’ alleged crimes over several years. Williams claims he was targeted by police to obscure a larger public corruption scandal.
Other lawsuits involve a former federal prosecutor and a woman who fell from Williams’ apartment window, alleging police were paid to obstruct investigations into Williams’ sexual assault cases.
The former prosecutor claimed that the police mishandled her case against Williams, allowing him to abscond until his arrest in North Carolina two years later. The city countered by stating the prosecutor delayed indictment processing.
Defense attorneys for the accused police officers have asserted that their clients did not ignore Williams, and their efforts resulted in his eventual capture.
As part of the settlement, the plaintiffs are expected to acknowledge potential difficulties in proving allegations of systemic corruption and obstruction related to law enforcement.
“Hopefully, with the City’s settlement, everyone can put this behind them and begin to heal, including the victims of Sean Williams and the officers who were wrongfully accused,” the attorneys remarked.
In earlier investigations, police discovered Williams with illegal drugs, significant cash, and numerous digital files containing extensive evidence of child sexual abuse and assaults against women.
Recently, following a charge for producing these abusive images, Williams escaped custody but was recaptured in Florida. Convicted of escape and child sexual abuse charges, he faces a minimum of 15 years in prison for each count, with sentencing set for February 24.
In addition to these ongoing legal troubles, Williams faces further charges in state and federal courts.
An external investigation commissioned by Johnson City revealed serious deficiencies in the police department’s handling of sexual assault cases, highlighting issues of ineffective management and a lack of proper training. The city has taken steps to address these failures, including implementing new sexual assault investigation protocols and creating supportive environments for victim interviews.
