Judge denies Sean Williams’ motion for new attorney
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GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Sean Williams won’t get a new attorney in his federal child pornography production and escape cases after U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer denied Williams’ request to replace Joseph McAfee Monday.
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Greer, Williams and McAfee spent more than an hour behind closed doors due to attorney-client privilege before the judge called other parties back for a very brief statement.
“I have allowed Mr. Williams to fully air his complaints, and I do not find his complaints to be legally sufficient,” Greer said in denying Williams’ motion for replacement counsel.
Greer also reiterated that Williams’ first trial, on one account of escape and another count of attempted escape, will still begin May 14.
News Channel 11 spoke with area criminal defense attorney Charles London Monday about the various reasons people with appointed defense counsel sometimes ask for replacements. London said the practice isn’t common but is “not unheard of,” and that the reasons vary.
While reasons are as often as not invalid, London said in serious cases like Williams’s, “a judge wants to consider everything that is put in front of them (and) weigh the rights of the defendant and try to hold as close as they can to those.
“However when those rights begin to infringe upon the administration of justice like you have in this case, it can become a significant problem.”
FULL COVERAGE: The Sean Williams Case
Greer hinted that could become the case at an April 2 motion hearing when McAfee was seeking continuances in both of Williams’ federal cases, along with a change in venue in the escape trial. Williams is accused of escaping from a prison transport van in Greeneville Oct. 18, 2023 — on the way to a hearing in which his second attorney, Bryce McKenzie, was seeking to be removed from the case — as well as trying to escape from a local jail in July 2023.
Greer said he’d normally deny the motion to continue (he approved a continuance in the child pornography case), considering some of the delays relate to Williams now having changed attorneys twice.
“At least at this point, I won’t hold that against Mr. Williams,” Greer said.
London said that type of patience sometimes wears thin given what he said is society’s right to an expeditious trial.
“A judge will consider the rights of the defendant and this right to counsel and his right to adequate representation, but judges don’t like people to play games with the justice system and abuse those rights and delay the justice that the people and the courts seek to provide,” London said.
As News Channel 11 re-entered the courtroom Monday after the closed conference, the former downtown Johnson City resident who’s alleged to have committed more than 50 rapes was in an animated discussion with Greer.
“As I’ve told you before … you cannot communicate with me ex parte except under very limited circumstances,” Greer told Williams.
“I wanted them unsealed,” Williams said, likely in reference to a letter he gave Greer last week explaining his reasons for wanting McAfee replaced.
Greer replied, “So you don’t want to consult with (McAfee) about whether you want them unsealed?”
As McAfee stood silently next to Williams, Greer and the defendant continued their back and forth. Greer asked him whether he wanted the transcript of their conversation that had just finished and Williams said he wanted to see it before making that decision.
“You know exactly what’s been said here today, Mr. Williams,” Greer responded. “You said most of it.”
Williams said his “head was spinning” following the hour-long exchange.
“My strong advice to you is to consult with Mr. McAfee and consider his advice before making any rash decision about anything that’s sealed,” Greer said.
Williams replied, “My voice isn’t being heard. I want my voice to be heard.”
Williams will have the opportunity for his voice to be heard plenty, as Greer also said “I’ve told him he can represent himself.”
He said if Williams wants any documents unsealed that are currently under seal (and unavailable for public viewing), he’ll have to either consult with McAfee or sign some type of affidavit that he’s making the decision without or against his attorney’s advice.
“I don’t want you to come back here years later and say it shouldn’t have been allowed,” Greer said.
London said that was an example of the care Greer is likely taking to cover all his bases in this case, which reached a national profile when Williams allegedly escaped from the van on Oct. 18 and was the subject of a multi-state manhunt until being captured in Florida Nov. 21.
“Any outcome of this case is going to be extremely serious, and the judges in East Tennessee do everything they possibly can to provide a quality outcome in the cases and trials that are before them,” London said.
“The concern would be if there were any mistakes of law or any omissions of fact that should not have been made, and instead of allowing mistakes they’re taking this the proper way, one step at a time and assuring a quality outcome so that there won’t be issues on the back side for a possible appeal.”
Williams, who owned Glass and Concrete LLC, is alleged to have sexually assaulted at least three children at this fifth-story apartment based on video and photographic evidence allegedly discovered after he was arrested in Cullowhee, N.C. April 30, 2023. Williams had been wanted for nearly two years on a federal ammunition charge out of Johnson City at that point.
He’s also alleged, though not yet charged — with drugging and raping or sexually assaulting more than 50 women at the apartment, with cameras set up around his home recording the alleged assaults.
London said he wouldn’t be surprised if Greer had grown irritated by the end of the conference.
“He gave him his say in court. However, quantity is not quality and it sounds like any human being would get frustrated hearing complaints ad nauseum if they don’t have a quality to their basis.
“So I’m not surprised at all that anybody in that courtroom probably got a little bit exasperated by hearing an ad nauseum list of issues, especially when there may not be much substance to those issues.”
Williams’ alleged serial sex crimes are at the center of a 2022 federal civil lawsuit against Johnson City and members of its police department and a second suit filed in 2023. Both were filed before alleged video and photo evidence surfaced, and Williams was never charged with any sex crimes by Johnson City police.
Williams was indicted on child pornography charges in September 2023.
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