Misdemeanor convictions do not
require Williams' removal from office, Harson said.Estimates to repair
the damage total several thousand dollars, sending the case to the
district attorney's office for prosecution as a felony.
District Attorney Mike Harson on Tuesday charged Lafayette City-Parish
Councilman Chris Williams with three misdemeanor counts of criminal
damage to property.
The bill of information filed Tuesday concludes two months of speculation about the legal consequences Williams would face for writing "Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Drive!" on the council credenza before a July 5 meeting.
Councilman Randy Menard filed a police complaint on behalf of the council for the July 5 incident and for previous markings Williams made, including carving his initials in the desk.If he had been convicted of a felony, Williams could have faced up to $1,000 in fines and two years in jail, and he would have been forced to vacate his council seat.
Harson offered a pre-trial diversion plan to the council, but the council took no action.
Instead, on Tuesday, Harson separated the three incidents and charged Williams with three misdemeanors. Harson earlier said state law does not allow prosecutors to combine several criminal damage charges to create a felony.
Each of the three misdemeanor charges carries a penalty of up to six months in the parish jail and a $500 fine, Harson said.
Normally, Harson would file a bill of information and schedule an arraignment in about a month, at which time Williams would enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. If Williams decides to enter a plea, particularly if it is a guilty plea, the case can be placed on the judicial docket sooner, Harson said.
The district attorney's office will handle the case even though it involves misdemeanors, which are usually prosecuted by the city prosecutor, he said.
Williams said he has a team of attorneys working on the case and would comment further at a later date. Je'Nelle Chargois of the local NAACP chapter said Tuesday she believes the misdemeanor charges are "the correct thing to do." "It's the law" that each incident be considered separately, she said.