Williams expected in court today

Councilman anticipated to enter plea for graffiti incident.

Claire Taylor


Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams probably will not serve jail time for writing "Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Drive!" on the council credenza, District Attorney Mike Harson said Thursday.

Williams is expected to enter a plea at 9 a.m. today before District Judge Marilyn Castle.


He faces three misdemeanor counts of simple damage to property. Each carries a sentence of not more than six months in jail and a $500 fine, Harson said.

Since a plea agreement has not been reached, Harson said he will not recommend a sentence. That will be left to Castle.  Harson also said he expects Williams to plead no contest today on the three misdemeanor charges.  "I'll probably object to that," he said.

A no-contest plea is the equivalent of not admitting guilt, although the effect is the same, Harson said. "I think the appropriate plea is a guilty plea," he said.  If he enters a plea of guilty without contest, Williams could be sentenced today, concluding the trial process.

Castle will decide whether to accept the no contest plea. If she does not, Williams can either change his plea to guilty or stand trial, Harson said.
Lafayette Attorney Harold Register Jr., who represents Williams, declined to comment.

Williams is serving his 10th year and final term on the council because of term limits. His legal troubles began just before a July 5 council meeting when he wrote on the council credenza. Williams admitted to reporters that evening that he wrote the statement after an "It's A King Thing" bumper sticker was repeatedly removed from the credenza.

The incident followed months of heated debate and failed attempts by Williams and Councilman Louis Benjamin to rename Willow Street after King. They believe the slain civil rights leader deserves a more prominent street than the existing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Williams issued a written apology the next day and offered to pay for damages.

Councilman Randy Menard filed a police report for that incident and others in which Williams allegedly scribbled on the Formica desktop and carved his initials in the credenza, which occurred when Menard was council chairman.

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