GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — The jury has been seated and opening statements have been heard in the first federal trial of accused child rapist Sean Williams.
The jury consists of six men and six women, alongside four alternates.
Williams is facing two escape-related charges, one for an alleged incident last July where authorities said Williams tried to escape from the Washington County Detention Center. Williams is also accused of escaping from a prisoner transport van in October. Williams was eventually captured in Florida in November.
Williams was offered a plea deal by the prosecution on Tuesday. Williams would have to plead guilty to the charge from the alleged October incident in exchange for the charge from the alleged July incident being dropped.
Williams rejected the plea deal because he was unhappy with the wording. Williams is representing himself after multiple attorneys left the case.
Williams claimed in court on Tuesday that he didn't have enough time to prepare and asked for a continuance, which the judge denied.
Opening statements began with the state bringing forth its evidence.
The state described how he 'meticulously planned' the escape.
Williams also gave his opening statements.
He said, "Just because someone escaped, doesn't mean that they attempted to."
The judge had to tell Williams to follow court procedures multiple times.
U.S. Marshal Keaton Bostic testified and talked about the transport in which Williams allegedly escaped.
Washington County Sheriff's Office's Toby Briggs, who was a corrections officer at the time, testified about what he found in Williams' cell in the Washington County Detention Center.
Briggs said that part of the cell's concrete had been tampered with and that pieces were missing.
The jurors will also shown pictures of Williams' cell.
The state in its opening statement said that there was a journal, Bible, notes about his planned escape, and a photo with "Sean Williams escaped convict" written on it.
Williams had an opportunity to cross-examine Briggs, which he didn't get to finish and will continue tomorrow at 9 a.m. in Greeneville.