Roland man receives bond in child abuse case

A Roland man received a $10,000 bond on March 7 after being charged and pleading not guilty in Sequoyah County District Court with one count of felony child abuse.

Desmond B. Williams, 49, was formally charged on March 12 and is now scheduled for a 9 a.m. April 24 felony disposition docket before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case, Roland Police officer Brian Simpson reported he was dispatched to a location in Roland in reference to a domestic physical altercation between an adult male and a juvenile.

The officer arrived to find Williams and two juveniles outside the residence, where one of the juveniles appeared to be shaking and visibly upset. Williams reportedly told the officer that he and one of the juveniles had allegedly gotten into an argument, and he had slapped the juvenile as a result.

The officer noted in the affidavit that the juvenile had marks on their neck and a patch of grass was still on the juvenile’s elbow from allegedly being thrown from the residence to the porch, and then to the ground. There was also an abrasion on the juvenile’s cheek where the juvenile said Williams struck them.

Williams reportedly told the officer they were practicing basketball drills at Roland Schools when the juvenile became upset with Williams, and the two exchanged words. He said the juvenile began walking home and when he arrived at the residence, the door was locked. Williams said he then became angry and banged on the door until the juvenile opened it.

Williams then reportedly admitted that he grabbed the juvenile by the back of the head, placing one hand over the juvenile’s mouth and nose, and then physically threw the juvenile out the front door of the residence onto the front porch. He said he threw the juvenile a second time before straddling the juvenile and holding the juvenile to the ground.

Williams said that he “knew he took it too far” and had handled the situation wrong, and was prepared to leave the residence, according to the affidavit.

He was then transported to the Sequoyah County Detention Center where he was booked in on the charge.

If found guilty of the crime, Williams could face imprisonment in the Department of Corrections not exceeding life, in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not less than $500, or both fine and imprisonment.