Judge: Sean Williams ‘has waived right to counsel,’ must represent self

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Alleged serial rapist Sean Williams will represent himself at his first federal trial later this month after U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer granted appointed attorney Ilya Berenshteyn’s motion to withdraw Thursday.

Complete Coverage of the Sean Williams Case

The decision came just five days before the scheduled start of Williams’ first trial — on escape and attempted escape charges — which Greer pushed back one week. Berenshteyn was Williams’ fourth different appointed attorney and had told Greer in a July 1 hearing that he wanted to withdraw. He filed a written motion to that effect last week.

“Mr. Williams has, in the court’s view, waived his right to counsel,” Greer said after spending roughly 90 minutes alone with Berenshteyn and Williams.

Unless Williams hires a lawyer, he’ll act as his own attorney in the pending escape and attempted escape trial and a child pornography production trial scheduled to start Aug. 27. Greer said he would appoint Berenshteyn as so-called elbow counsel.

Greer had previously warned Williams that if troubles arose with Berenshteyn, the judge would not appoint another lawyer nor allow any further trial delays.

As long as prosecuting attorneys can get witnesses up from Florida a week later than planned, Greer said, “I will grant Mr. Williams a one-week continuance of the case.”

Almost as if on cue, the 52-year-old former downtown Johnson City businessman, who’s also alleged to have committed more than 50 rapes and recorded them on cameras, began talking over Greer.

“Mr. Williams, why don’t you listen to what I’m saying,” Greer said as Williams spoke volubly next to Berenshteyn.

“I’m trying to take notes,” Williams replied.

“You can’t take notes and talk. You can’t listen to me and talk,” Greer responded.

Williams later said he wanted more than one additional week, saying “there’s a lot to prepare for,” though the trial has been scheduled and delayed several times already. Greer said Williams could spend all his time between now and July 23 preparing and that he had to reasonably know a likely parting with Berenshteyn was coming.

“I’ve graciously granted you one week,” Greer said. “That’s all you’re getting.”

Meghan Gomez, the lead assistant U.S. attorney prosecuting Williams, said she could work around the week delay as long as witnesses from Florida could reschedule. Berenshteyn also said he should be available for what is currently scheduled to be a three-day trial.

Greer told Gomez she needed to revisit with Berenshteyn a previously agreed upon agreement on discovery in the case to determine whether any of those materials shouldn’t be provided to Williams.

A total of 132 potential jurors have been scheduled for jury selection.

Williams, whose alleged serial drugging and raping of women is at the center of three separate federal civil suits, faces three federal counts of production of child pornography. A trial on those charges is set for Greer’s court starting Aug. 27.

The earlier trial, which had been set to start Tuesday, stems from two incidents. The first was an alleged July 2023 escape attempt when he was being housed at the Washington County jail. The second was an Oct. 18, 2023 incident in which Williams allegedly did escape from a prison van taking him to a court appearance in Greeneville. Williams was at large for more than a month before being captured Nov. 21 in Florida.

Williams has been in federal custody since May 2023, following nearly two years on the loose after Johnson City police unsuccessfully tried to serve a warrant for felon in possession of ammunition on May 5, 2021. Western Carolina University police arrested him April 30, 2023 after approaching him in the middle of the night while he was in a parked car and allegedly discovering large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine.

Shortly after turning Williams over to the federal system, the university police searched thumb drives and digital devices Williams allegedly had in his possession. Those purportedly contained thousands of images and videos, which allegedly show Williams raping or sexually assaulting more than 50 women who appear to be drugged.

The October escape and subsequent manhunt drew national media attention up to the point Williams was captured. Much of that coverage revealed the explosive sexual assault allegations against him, but the criminal complaints aren’t the only thing that have continued to attract national and even international coverage.

Williams is at the center of three federal civil lawsuits against Johnson City and some police officers, related to allegations he drugged and raped women at his fifth-floor Johnson City apartment over a period of years — and that police failed to properly investigate complaints against him in exchange for payoffs.

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