Judge revokes Williams’ bail

Kim Smith

Friday, March 23, 2001 | 11:19 a.m.

A District Court Judge this morning denied a request by Jessica Williams' attorney, John Watkins, to reduce his client's $5 million bail so she could go free until her sentencing next week.

Instead, District Judge Mark Gibbons revoked the bail entirely.

Williams, 21, was found guilty Feb. 16 of six counts of driving with a prohibited substance in her blood.

Jurors found that Williams had more than two nanograms of THC -- the active ingredient in marijuana -- in her blood when her van drifted off Interstate 15 on March 19, 2000, and struck and killed six teenagers.

Jurors decided, however, that Williams was not impaired by the THC or the Ecstasy in her system. Watkins insists drivers cannot be guilty of being under the influence of a drug while simultaneously acquitted of being impaired.

Watkins used that argument this morning during the hearing before Gibbons.

He told the judge that his client "could very well end up" having her conviction overturned and it would be a shame if she were to remain incarcerated until then.

Deputy District Attorney Bruce Nelson argued that instead of lowering Williams' bail, it should be revoked entirely because of the sentence she faces -- between two and 20 years in prison per victim.

Williams will be sentenced one week from today.