Trial date for Memphis’ Williams set for Dec

Oct 27, 2023, 06:09 PM ET

EL CAJON, Calif.– A San Diego County Superior Court judge on Friday turned down a request to raise star Memphis basketball recruit Mikey Williams’ bail for what the prosecution said was a threatening social media post, and gave a rapid trial for the 19-year-old on 9 felony charges coming from a March 17 shooting event in which nobody was injured.Judge Kathleen

M. Lewis rejected Deputy District Attorney George Modlin’s demand to raise Williams’ bail to $500,000. The player has been free on a $50,000 bond given that his arrest April 13.

Lewis set trial for Dec. 14 on six counts of assault with a weapon, one count of shooting into an occupied lorry and two counts of making hazards that could result in great physical injury or death. Williams faces up to thirty years in prison if convicted.Defense lawyer Troy Owens got in not guilty pleas on Williams’behalf.Williams is enrolled in online classes at Memphis and remains on the lineup however does not have access to team centers or activities, and his status with the program will be figured out when the lawsuit is dealt with, the school stated last month. The Tigers open the season Nov. 6 in the house versus Jackson State.It was the 2nd time Modlin asked for a boost in bail. The request during Williams’ arraignment Friday was based on what Modlin said was a since-deleted Instagram post revealing a television clip of Williams in court with lyrics from a song by rap artist Rylo Rodriguez:”Say the judge and DA [curse] with his head, simply stay afloat.”The post was made a couple of hours after Williams’initial hearing Oct. 10, when he was purchased to stand trial on

what were then six charges. Modlin has actually since added three more charges.Modlin said Williams ‘Instagram reach” is far more than the majority of accuseds have”and “this is more than someone venting.”He also said witnesses have left

of state.Owens objected, saying the lyrics were not written by Williams and there was” no reputable information about anyone being in risk.”Owens stated Williams deleted the post “since of the

negative attention and overreach”and hasn’t published since.Lewis purchased Williams not to make anymore posts about the case. In decreasing to raise bail, she stated:”I don’t think it’s an enough change of circumstances. I understand the argument.

I think it was just a dumb, stupid thing Mr. Williams did. “Williams didn’t comment when asked about the post as he left with his lawyers and several family members.Williams was among the name, image and likeness era’s earliest stars, securing a landmark

multiyear handle shoe and athletic clothing maker Puma for an undisclosed quantity in 2021. Puma spokesperson Melissa Garbayo said Friday that the company’s relationship with Williams ended earlier this year. On3.com once approximated his NIL appraisal at$3.6 million, however Williams’name no longer appears in the rankings.Williams, who completed his prep profession at San Ysidro High School, is accused in a March 27 shooting at his home in unincorporated Jamul in eastern San Diego County. He is implicated of shooting at a vehicle with 6 occupants and making threats.A juvenile witness testified at the preliminary hearing that she and a group of buddies took an Uber to Williams ‘home so she might meet with JJ Taylor, who was living there and likewise has devoted to dip into Memphis. The lady stated she went inside while the others waited in the car, however that Williams appeared angry and began to make threats.Judge Sherry M. Thompson-Taylor ruled at the preliminary hearing that while no witnesses saw Williams fire a weapon, there was possible cause to send the case to trial based on testimony that witnesses saw him with a gun with a red targeting laser and heard him threaten to eliminate them. Modlin presented pictures of bullet holes in the Uber chauffeur’s Tesla Model 3.