how are you feeling Mr. Williams? Okay, no comment.
FORMER WARNER ROBINS CITY COUNCILMAN JOHN WILLIAMS WILL SERVE 14 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON..
HELLO EVERYONE AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.... I'M LEAH JOHNSON..
AND I'M FRANK MALLOY.
THIS IS EYEWITNESS NEWS AT SIX...
JUDGE MARC TREADWELL MADE THAT DECISION TODAY.
A JURY CONVICTED WILLIAMS IN APRIL OF EXTORTION... LYING TO AN F-B-I AGENT AND TAMPERING WITH A WITNESS.
THE CONVICTION SURROUNDED WILLLIAMS TRYING TO PROFIT FROM THE PURCHASE OF A CITY TRUCK FOR THE WARNER ROBINS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
LORRA LYNCH WAS IN THE COURTROOM TODAY.
LORRA... WHAT WAS WILLIAMS REACTION?
IN SHORT... HE DIDN'T REACT.
BASED ON WHAT HE TOLD ME A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE HEARING STARTED... THE SENTENCE WAS ACTUALLY LESS THAN WHAT HE EXPECTED.
HE CAME INTO THE COURTROOM THIS MORNING... DRESSED IN A SUIT AND COWBOY BOOTS... AS IS NORMAL FOR HIM.
WILLIAMS WAS SHAKING HANDS... SMILING AND MAKING SMALL TALK.
HE EVEN SHOOK HANDS WITH THE COURT GUARDS... AND I OVERHEAD ONE SAY... THEY'VE NEVER SEEN A DEFENDANT DO THAT BEFORE.
WILLIAMS TALKED TO ME... SAYING HE DIDN'T SLEEP WELL LAST NIGHT.. THAT HE STAYED UP LATE WORKING ON SOME BLUE PRINTS FOR AN EXPANSION TO HIS WARNER ROBINS HOME.
I ASKED HIM WHAT HE THOUGHT WOULD COME FROM THE HEARING... HE RESPONDED... "TWO YEARS"... MEANING THAT WAS THE SENTENCE HE EXPECTED.
JUDGE MARK TREADWELL ORDERED HIM TO SERVE TEN MONTHS LESS THAN THAT.
<<nats- coming into court
WILLIAMS ARRIVED AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN MACON ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE HIS 10 A-M HEARING... WITH HIS WIFE.. SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS AND A FEW FRIENDS.
nats-
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO COMMENT ON-CAMERA... BUT WILLIAMS HANDED 13WMAZ AN ENVELOPE.
IT CONTAINED LETTERS WRITTEN ON HIS BEHALF TO THE JUDGE... ASKING FOR A REDUCED SENTENCE.
(TAKE CG)
ONE FROM HIS SON... CRAIG WILLIAMS... READ... "THIS HAS TAKEN SO MUCH OUT OF HIM.. AND HIS HEALTH HAS SHOWN THE STRESS HE HAS BEEN UNDER."
TREADWELL SAID HE HAD NO EVIDENCE TO PROVE HE SHOULD CONSIDER WILLIAM'S HEALTH ... BUT THE JUDGE ACKNOWLEDGED HIS AGE... 73... LACK OF CRIMINAL HISTORY.. AND A NEPHEW'S TESTIMONY ABOUT A "EXEMPLARY" LIFE.
(file)
WILLIAMS WAS ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL IN 2008... AFTER RETIRING FROM CONTRACTING WORK.
HE GOT INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS CITY PROJECTS... INCLUDING DEVELOPING A DOWNTOWN AREA... THE ANIMAL SHELTER... AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S DAILY BUSINESS.
nats-
HIS NAME LANDED ON SEVERAL POLICE REPORTS IN THAT TIME...DUE TO DISPUTES WITH TENANTS ... AN ALTERCATION OVER A FAMILY ESTATE.... AND ARGUMENTS AT A WAFFLE HOUSE.
NONE RESULTED IN CHARGES....UNTIL AN ARREST OVER A LOST CITY CELL PHONE.
THAT CHARGE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
nats-
BUT LAST FALL... FEDERAL PROSECUTORS CHARGED HIM AFTER AN INVESTIGATION SHOWED HE ACCEPTED A KICK-BACK FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PURCHASE OF A TRUCK.
nats- leaving court house
WILLIAMS DIDN'T WANT TO TALK AS HE LEFT THE COURTHOUSE... BUT GAVE REPORTERS A THUMBS UP... BEFORE HEADING HOME TO WARNER ROBINS FOR CONTINUED HOUSE ARREST.
HIS FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCE SHOULD START IN FOUR TO SIX WEEKS.>>
Did anyone speak in court on William's behalf?
- Yes, his nephew, who says he's an attorney in Mississippi - James Kitchens
- He asked the judge to have "some level of grace", because his uncle helped raise him, been a good businessman, recalled his patience
- He did acknowlege his uncle's bad behavior, but asked the judge not to judge him by this crime, but to take his whole life into account
- Did John Williams speak to the court?
- Yes. Told the judge this was personally embarrassing to him, his family, the city and constituents
- He plans to stay on the straight and narrow until the end of this road
- Asked for chance to make-up his wrongs
- He also added that he plans to appeal the case, because he believes he didn't do anything wrong
- That was a central issue in today's correct hearing, the lack of taking responsibility, correct?
- Yes, it was. The defense wanted the sentence to be reduced saying that Williams had taken responsibility although he never said that in open court
- The prosecution led by George McCommon said that Williams never showed genuine remorse, and that he had shown a lack of remorse by violating the terms of his pretrial agreement (florida)
- Judge went with the prosecution saying he didn't accept responsibility and that his crime has to be taken seriously because he was an elected official and crimes committed in that capacity diminish the public trust in elected officials
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FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A WEEK...WARNER ROBINS CITY COUNCIL PUT OFF A VOTE ON NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
THIS TIME... IT WAS DUE TO A TYPO.
COUNCIL MEMBERS NOTICED THAT THE TOTAL BUDGET FIGURE WAS LISTED CORRECTLY IN ONE PART OF THE BUDGET DOCUTMENT... BUT WAS WRONG IN ANOTHER.
THE CORRECT FIGURE FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET.... 35-POINT-SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THEY'LL GET THE DOCUMENT FIXED AND SCHEDULE ANOTHER VOTE FOR NEXT THURSDAY.
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GEORGIA TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS LISTENED TO A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON A HIGH SPEED PASSENGER RAIL THAT WOULD CONNECT ATLANTA TO JACKSONVILLE..... WITH A STOP IN MACON.
AUSTIN LEWIS TALKED WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT WHAT THIS PROJECT COULD MEAN FOR THE CITY.
sa<<
I'M STANDING OUT HERE BY TERMINAL STATION...WHERE SOMEDAY YOU COULD CATCH PASSENGER RAIL RUNNING FROM ATLANTA TO JACKSONVILLE.
A CONSULTANT TELLS GEORGIA TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS ...THAT IT COULD COST ANYWHERE FROM 5 BILLION TO 16 POINT 1 BILLION DOLLARS TO MAKE THIS A REALITY....NOW DIVIDE THAT UP...THAT WOULD MEAN UP TO 41 MILLION DOLLARS A MILE.
BUT THIS SAME STUDY SAYS THEY THINK MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR COULD RIDE THIS LINE...AND IT COULD BRING MAKE MORE THAN 200 MILION A YEAR IN REVENUE.
MACON MAYOR ROBERT REICHERT HE'S WORKED ON THIS PROJECT FOR A WHILE.
sot mayor: It's of huge importance as we continue to make Macon the hub city of Middle Georgia region.
REICHERT SAYS THIS PROJECT COULD HAVE A BIG ECONOMIC IMPACT.
sot mayor: it creates jobs not only in putting the system in but in running it operating it and maintaining it and those are jobs that don't get outsourced because the infrastructure here, the roads here.
IT COULD BE A WHILE BEFORE WE SEE TRAINS...PASSING THROUGH HERE TO JACKSONVILLE....SAVANNAH...OR ATLANTA.
ACCORDING TO THE PRESENTATION THAT COULD TAKE UP TO 16 YEARS....OR MORE.
IN MACON AUSTIN LEWIS 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS.
OTHER POSSIBLE LINE STOPS INCLUDE GRIFFIN...SAVANNAH... AND BRUNSWICK.
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TODAY'S 13WMAZ DOT COM WEB POLL ASKS... WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMUTE TO ATLANTA BY HIGH SPEED RAIL?
SO FAR 70 PERCENT OF YOU SAY YES...
30 PERCENT SAY NO..
VOTE NOW... VISIT 13WMAZ DOT COM AND LOOK FOR THE QUESTION ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOMEPAGE.
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MORE TROUBLE TONIGHT FOR FORMER PENN STATE ASSISTANT COACH JERRY SANDUSKY..
ONE OF HIS ADOPTED SON'S REPORTEDLY SAYS HE'S PREPARED TO TESTIFY FOR THE PROSECUTION..
MATT SANDUSKY'S LAWYER ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT HIS CLIENT WAS ALSO ABUSED BY THE FORMER PENN STATE ASSISTANT COACH.
THE STATEMENT CAME AFTER JURORS BEGAN DELIBERATING 48 CHARGES AGAINST JERRY SANDUSKY.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A DOOLY COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER IS AT THE AUGUSTA BURN CENTER.. WITH BURNS OVER 70 PERCENT OF HIS BODY..
DOOLY COUNTY ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF KENNY CALHOUN SAYS LEE HARRIS JUNIOR WAS WORKING ON A PIECE OF FARM EQUIPMENT MONDAY AFTERNOON AT HIS FARM WHEN HE GOT SPRAYED WITH FUEL AND IT IGNITED..
HARRIS WAS RUSHED TO THE MEDICAL CENTER IN MACON.. THEN TRANSPORTED TO AUGUSTA.
CALHOUN SAYS HARRIS IS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER WITH THE CITY OF VIENNA..
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THE SALVATION ARMY OF CENTRAL GEORGIA IS AMONG NINE AGENCIES SHARING ONE POINT 7 MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANTS TARGETING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF GEORGIA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED THE GRANTS TODAY.
THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO SOME 45 HUNDRED LOW INCOME STATE RESIDENTS.
THE COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FUNDS TO NON-PROFITS FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS.
IN ADDITION TO LEGAL SERVICES..THE MONEY IS ALSO USED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRAINING.
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THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR RELEASED NEW NUMBERS ON UNEMPLOYMENT TODAY...
ACCORDING TO THE D-O-L
THE MAY UNEMPLOYMENT IN MACON SITS AT 9 POINT 4 PERCENT.
THAT'S UP FROM 9 POINT ONE DURING APRIL.
THE LOWEST RATE IN CENTRAL GEORGIA BELONGS TO WARNER ROBINS... AT 7 POINT 4 PERCENT... THOUGH THAT'S UP FROM 7.2 PERCENT IN APRIL.
WHEN IT COMES TO COUNTY NUMBERS.. BIBB COUNTY IS JUST BELOW 10 PERCENT..
HOUSTON COUNTY'S IS 7 POINT 4.
THAT'S THE SAME AS MONROE COUNTY'S.
THEY ARE THE LOWEST RATES IN THE REGION.
THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYEMENT RATES ARE IN HANCOCK COUNTY... WITH 16 PERCENT.
AND LAURENS....11 POINT 8.
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HE'S GOT A NEW JOB.. BUT MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT MCMAHON WILL STILL BE WORKING TO PROMOTE ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE.
ONE WEEK INTO RETIREMENT.. THE FORMER AIR LOGISTICS COMMANDER IS NOW THE PRESIDENT AND C-E-O OF THE 21st CENTURY PARTNERSHIP.
HE TOLD KATELYN HECK HOW HE PLANS TO LEAD THE GROUP WITH HELP FROM THE CENTRAL GEORGIA COMMUNITY.
<<
(NATS)
"Aye's" WERE HEARD ACROSS THE BOARD.... AS THE 21ST CENTURY PARTNERSHIP VOTED IN THEIR NEW LEADER.... MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT MCMAHON.
(SOT:his leadership skills, his ease working with people, his persona in the community, all of those things go to make, he is the perfect choice for this.)
MCMAHON STEPPED UP AS THE PRESIDENT AND C-E-O... HIS POSITION STEMS FROM A STRUCTURAL CHANGE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION TO MOVE AWAY FROM A PART TIME ADVISOR SETUP.
(SOT: what this does is gives us more of a business oriented structure that will allow us not only to respond near-term but more importantly to build the long-term plans and economic support that's necessary to be able to implement those long-term plans)
(NATS: "the fights will not end here, they will continue and the challenges will be many")
MCMAHON SAYS HE PLANS TO MEET THOSE CHALLENGES HEAD ON....BUT SAYS IT WON'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT HELP FROM ALL OF CENTRAL GEORGIA.
(SOT:we have to think globally, we have to think as a group as opposed to individual areas)
>>Natsound of Mayor Reichert saying "We will stand shoulder to shoulder"..
CHAIRMAN BRAD FINK SAYS MCMAHON WILL ALSO HAVE A SUPPORT STAFF BACKING HIM UP... BUT THOSE POSITIONS HAVE NOT BEEN FILLED YET.
(NATS)
MAJOR GENERAL RICK GODDARD WILL HAND OVER THE REIGNS TO MCMAHON IN SEPTEMBER.
HE SAYS MCMAHON WILL HAVE A FULL PLATE WHEN HE TAKES OVER... BUT BELIEVES HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND EXTENSIVE CONTACT LIST WILL HELP HIM GET THE JOB DONE.
(NATS)
KATELYN HECK
13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS
A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE HOUSTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OFFICE SPOKE UP AT TODAY'S MEETING TO PLEDGE 55-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE PARTNERSHIP.
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INDEPENDENCE DAY IS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY..AND SO IS THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION AT MCCONNELL TALBERT STADIUM IN WARNER ROBINS..
THIS YEAR WILL BE BITTERSWEET BECAUSE IT'LL BE THE LAST TIME THE BAND OF THE AIR FORCE RESERVE FROM THE BASE WILL PERFORM..
DUE TO BUDGET CUTS... THE 45 MEMBERS WILL BE REASSIGNED TO THE REMAINING EIGHT AIR FORCE BANDS ACROSS THE U-S.
STARTING NEXT YEAR.. CENTRAL GEORGIA WILL BE SERVICED BY A BAND BASED OUT OF TEXAS..
THE BAND'S LAST INDEPENDENCE DAY PERFORMANCE COINCIDES WITH THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONCERT...
TOMORROW ON EYEWITNESS NEWS AT 5 AND 6...THE BAND WILL GIVE US A PREVIEW OF ITS FINAL INDEPENDENCE DAY
PERFORMANCE..
THE CELEBRATION BEGINS WITH THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND AN F-15 FIGHTER JET FLYOVER AT 8.... AND A SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMANCE BY COUNTRY MUSIC STAR JOSH TURNER.