SC Doctor Intended Federal Criminal Sexual Conduct with Teenager in Florida
An anesthesiologist from South Carolina was arrested in Florida in October 2012 on federal criminal sexual charges, and has been brought to Columbia for trial this coming week of March.
Dr. John Francis Williams, 66, thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl when he was arrested in Volusia County, Florida. Arresting officials say he had wine, condoms, Viagra, various sex devices, and even a teddy bear with him to give to the teenager.
He will go to trial the week of March 25th. Court documents show that he plans to plead insanity at the time of the offense.
His medical license has been temporarily suspended as his case plays out in court. Through his license, reporters note that he had privileges at Palmetto Health Richland and Baptist, as well as Providence. Williams has not worked at the Palmetto Health hospitals since 2007, and Providence stated that he no longer works there as well.
Federal Criminal Sexual Conduct Charges
Although most criminal sexual conduct charges fall within state law, some offenses fall specifically into federal jurisdiction. These offenses are legislated in Title 18 of the United States Code. Federal sexual offenses include:
- Selling or buying of children (Section 2251A(a)(b))
- Certain activities relating to material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, including both distribution and receipt of visual depictions in books, magazines, periodicals, films, and videotapes (Section 2252)
- Certain activities relating to material constituting or containing child pornography (Section 2252A)
- Production of sexually explicit depictions of a minor for importation into the United States (Section 2260)
- Transporting an individual in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent that the individual engage in prostitution or other illegal sexual activity (Section 2421)
- Transportation of minors in interstate or foreign commerce, with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity (Section 2423(a))
- Interstate or foreign travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a juvenile (Section 2423(b))
- Use of interstate facilities to transmit information about an individual under the age of 16, with “the intent to entice, encourage, offer, or solicit that minor to engage in any sexual activity that can be charged as a criminal offense.” (Section 2425)
For violating these federal criminal sexual conduct laws, the perpetrator faces between 15 and 30 years in prison. Interstate commerce involving child pornography is punishable by up to 50 years in prison, according to the United States Code.
The Strom Law Firm Can Defend Against Federal Criminal Sexual Conduct Charges
If you face federal sexual misconduct or criminal sexual conduct charges, contact the federal criminal defense and complex litigation attorneys at the Strom Law Firm today. We offer free, confidential consultations, so you can discuss the facts of your case with impunity. Do not hesitate to contact us. 803.252.4800.
