Williams' graffiti charges still in air
Confusion over cost estimates could mean misdemeanor.

Claire Taylor
Kayla Gagnet
Daily Advertiser

Confusion over how much damage was done to the Lafayette Consolidated Government credenza may keep Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams from being charged with felony damage to property, according to 15th Judicial District Attorney Mike Harson.

Harson said Wednesday that the breakdown of cost estimates to repair the council credenza could bring the charges back to the misdemeanor level.

The case stems from a July 5 meeting when Williams wrote "Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Drive!" on the council credenza after someone repeatedly removed an "It's a King Thing" bumper sticker he had displayed there.
The incident followed a year of failed attempts by Williams and Councilman Louis Benjamin to change the name of Willow Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Harson said initial estimates to repair the credenza were several thousand dollars, placing the crime in the felony range. But those estimates included repairing other damage Williams has allegedly caused, namely carving his initials on the wood of the desk and doodling on the Formica surface.

The estimate to repair only the front part where Williams wrote in permanent marker was $450, under the $500 limit required to make the case a felony, Harson said.

What drove the estimate higher was the cost to repair Formica, Harson said. But state law doesn't allow prosecutors to aggregate several property damage charges - meaning Harson may have to charge Williams with multiple misdemeanors instead of a felony.

Harson has contacted city-parish government to get a breakdown of the bids.

Harson will likely go forward with formal charges, whether felony or misdemeanor, now that the City-Parish Council appears to have passed on a proposal by the prosecutor's office that would have kept Williams' record clean by diverting his case to a pre-trial program.

On Monday, Council Chairman Rob Stevenson sent a letter to Harson indicating he "received no indication from any council member that they want to pursue approval of your proposal."

Williams said Wednesday he did not receive a copy of Stevenson's letter to Harson. He declined to comment further, referring calls to his attorney, who did not return a call. His secretary said he was in court.

Last week, Harson said he would give the council until Aug. 22 to act on the diversion plan. If the council failed to act or rejected the proposal, "I move forward with the charges," he said at the time.

The diversion plan Harson recommended for Williams on Aug. 11 included community service, payment for damages in excess of $5,000, an anger management course and a year of low-level court supervision. Such programs are common, especially for first-time offenders.

The council, as the victim, could accept or reject the pre-trial diversion plan.

If convicted of felony charges, Williams could face up to a $1,000 fine and two years in prison. He also could be removed from office and prohibited from seeking another elected position for 15 years.

The misdemeanor charges would carry a fine of not more than $500 and not more than six months in jail, and Williams could keep his council seat.

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