Inpatient Treatment OK’d For Non-Compliant Stabbing Defendant  

By Cathy Ochoa - October 8, 2024
Daily Stories | stabbing | Suspects |

DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro filed a bed-to-bed order to admit a stabbing defendant to mandatory inpatient drug treatment after he was found non-compliant with the conditions of his release on Oct. 7.

Billy M.Williams, 68, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury, threat to kidnap or injure a person, and aggressive panhandling. These charges are in connection to a stabbing on Dec. 7, 2023, at Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, NW, and Virginia Avenue, NW. He was released on Jan. 9, 2024, on condition that he check in with the court weekly. 

Williams was issued a bench warrant on Jan. 16, 2024, on charges of failure to appear for a felony arraignment hearing and assault with a dangerous weapon. On July 12, 2024, his release conditions were changed, requiring weekly urinalysis check-ins and consistent group sessions.

A second warrant was issued on Sept. 24 for failure to appear for a pretrial show cause hearing and assault with a dangerous weapon (knife), and an added charge of assault with a significant bodily injury. 

On Oct. 7, Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) recommended revocation of release. PSA said Williams has been non-compliant with drug tests, phone check-ins, and his curfew of 5:00 pm to 6:00 am. 

Defense attorney Henry Escoto requested inpatient treatment for Williams, and PSA recommended 60 days of placement. 

Judge Di Toro granted a bed-to-bed order requiring Williams to return to jail to be handed to residential services and placed back on GPS monitoring. 

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Oct. 18.