Sean Williams Oct. 22 trial date still firm as new lawyer appears on scene
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Sean Williams’ newly appointed attorney told the judge in Williams’ federal child pornography case he can be ready for trial Oct. 22, despite just receiving case files a week ago.
“I’m going to do what the court asks me to do,” Knoxville attorney Mark Brown told U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer, who opened a Monday status hearing by saying Oct. 22 “is in the court’s mind a firm trial date.”
Complete Coverage of the Sean Williams Case
Brown is the fifth attorney who’s been appointed for the 52-year-old Williams, who represented himself in a recent escape trial in which he was convicted on one count and acquitted on a second. A series of previously appointed attorneys have withdrawn, citing issues with Williams that made it essentially impossible to represent him.
“Much of the delay in this case has been attributable to Mr. Williams,” Greer said during the relatively uneventful hearing that lasted just 13 minutes.
Williams was indicted almost a year ago on three counts of enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of manufacturing child pornography. Each count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years.
His trial was initially set for early 2024 and has been pushed back by the successive changes of attorney — as well as by a dramatic Oct. 18 escape from a prison transport van after which Williams was on the run for almost five weeks.
Greer said he will personally handle decisions on any pre-trial motions, rather than handing them off to a magistrate judge, to expedite the remainder of the pre-trial process.
Only once did Greer feel the need to chastise Williams, who was a frequent target of the judge’s admonitions during his escape trial. Monday’s moment came as Greer was explaining to Brown his strong desire to keep the Oct. 22 deadline and Williams began talking to the attorney.
“It’s hard for him to listen to me when he’s listening to you,” Greer said. “Right now, I’m talking.” The brief interjection quieted Williams and the rest of the hearing went smoothly.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Swecker told Greer prosecutors had provided Brown with all of their evidence with the exception of photos and/or video that allegedly show Williams committing the crimes for which he faces trial. Brown will have to view those, which authorities allegedly discovered on digital devices seized from Williams when he was arrested April 29, 2023, in the presence of FBI agents.
Brown told Greer he has not yet had a one-on-one meeting with Williams.
The judge did inform Williams, who has filed a number of motions himself during his period as a “pro se” defendant representing himself, that he can’t continue filing his own motions now that he has counsel. Greer said the only exception would be if Williams ended up “at loggerheads” with Brown as he has with his previous four lawyers.
“I don’t see any reason you’ll have any difficulty getting along with him, but please listen to his advice,” Greer encouraged Williams.
“So far so good,” Williams replied.
Brown said he’s set to meet Friday with an expert witness assigned to the case who has the training to review the digital evidence against Williams. He told Greer the witness said they will only serve in the case if Williams is represented, not if he ends up being pro se again.
Greer said he expects to hold fairly frequent status updates in order to quickly identify and address any potential problems that could jeopardize the Oct. 22 trial date. He asked both sides to communicate frequently and civilly, though he left open a slight possibility the trial could be delayed. Brown had earlier noted an additional month would be helpful.
As the hearing wrapped up, Greer said he was not going to address the possibility of a delay yet but would deal with any such request if necessary at some point.
“Until then I want to consider (Oct. 22) a firm trial date,” he said, adding that his “agenda today” was to set the process up to make that a reality.
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