John Chiv: Guns, infidelity and law enforcement training highlighted in jury selection and opening statements in Lt. Sam Williams trial

Mar 26, 2024

Guns, infidelity and law enforcement training highlighted in jury selection and opening statements in Lt. Sam Williams trial

Twelve jurors, 4 men and 8 women were sworn in HCSO Lt. Sam Williams jury trial yesterday at 11:25 a.m. Alternate jurors were questioned until lunch. Court resumed at 1:30 and alternate jurors, two men and two women were sworn in at 1:45. Judge Timothy Canning read opening instructions to the jury. Deputy District Candace Myers gave her opening statement. Deputy Public Defender David Celli gave his opening statement. The first People's witness was Danielle Williams, Lt. Williams' wife. She does not look like her facebook profile photo I included in a previous post which is obviously not a recent photo. She was speaking very softly and confirmed they are still married. The second People's witness was Brian Kelsey, Jr. the alleged victim and Danielle Williams' lover.

No other media was in court and no one else in the audience.

I covered the preliminary hearing in detail and the bulk of Ms. Myers opening referred to the basic facts. I am not going to retype all that information. If you did not read that coverage, my previous coverage with exclusives, you can access those posts. I saw Danielle Williams' lover and the alleged victim in this case, Brian Kelsey, Jr testify. In my previous coverage, there is information about him not reported by any other media. I saw the video of the incident that will be shown to the jurors. The only two new witnesses for the trial are Sam Williams' daughter Rylie Williams who was a witness to the alleged incident and defense expert Chris Coleman.

I don't know if additional videos will be played in this trial but you have the preliminary hearing coverage to compare to Ms. Myers' opening statement. Jurors will see that video, hear all the evidence and testimony and they get to determine the credibility of each witness. Will they find Lt. Sam Williams guilty as Ms. Myers asked them to do or acquit him as Mr. Celli asked him to do. Is this trial influenced by some personal agenda that DA Investigator Steve Dunn has against Sam Williams as claimed by an acquaintance of Lt. Sam Williams and former court employee? Is the DA making an example of Lt. Sam Williams because he is law enforcement?

If you read my coverage on the preliminary hearing, you know the alleged incident did not just happen. Lt. Williams reached out to Kelsey Jr, gave him the benefit of doubt about any confusion Kelsey Jr may have about his marriage and Kelsey Jr made the choice to continue sleeping with another man's wife.

I have heard a lot about many local law enforcement and their extra curricular, body fluid swapping and multiple partner activities. Judge Canning previously ruled that the jury will not hear about Lt. William's affair.

Based on what I have already heard so far, if I was on that jury, I would not find Lt. Williams guilty of the two charges. I did not find Kelsey Jr credible and I think Danielle Williams created and inflamed this situation. Mr. Celli's opening statement was well presented without blamimg either Kelsey Jr or Danielle Williams. Even some of the preliminary hearing testimony supports the defense opening statement. Having heard what I have in court so far, it makes sense why Danielle Williams' own sister defended her brother in law online. On 3/21, there is an entry that the DA subpoenaed record from JLF construction.

Ms. Myers' opening statement:

"This case is about an angry husband who acted on that anger and in the process violated the law."

"Ms. Danielle Williams is the estranged wife of the defendant. Her relationship with Mr. Williams was in strife by March 2022 and they were separated."

"The evidence will show she was ready to move on but Mr. Williams was not ready."

"Ms. Williams is a nurse at Sempervirens and began a flirtation with a coworker Brian Kelsey, Jr. Mr. Williams became aware of this in December 2022."

Ms. Myers referred to the email sent by Sam Williams to Kelsey. The text is in the preliminary hearing coverage. "In January 2023, Sam Williams was angry" because the affair "had not ceased. He told Kelsey he was a HCSO Lt and going to kill him."

Kelsey reached out to a friend, former HCSO Deputy Jordan Walstrom and asked him how to report Sam Williams. Former Deputy Walstrom put Kelsey in touch with HCSO Undersheriff J.D. Braud.

"Kelsey believes in March 2023 he was in a relationship with Danielle Williams. On March 20, Sam moves into his own apartment in McKinleyville. On March 23, Mrs. Williams hosts coworkers at the residence including Kelsey. After the other people leave, Danielle and Kelsey engage in consensual sex."

"Sam Williams pulls up, sees Kelsey's car, Sam goes back to the apartment, picks up his adult daughter, goes back to the house. Rylie Williams filmed the confrontation. You hear Sam Williams yell you are about to die motherfucker." Kelsey went home and called law enforcement.

The video that jurors will see shows Sam Williams pulling up to the house, going in, walking into the bedroom and discovering his wife and lover in the bedroom and what he says to the point Kelsey leaves the house. The video shown at the preliminary hearing does not show any faces or bodies. You see Sam Williams hand opening the front door and you hear voices.

Mr. Celli's opening statement:

"A lot of what I am about to talk about is the same as what Ms. Myers told you. My client is a Lt. Sheriff, a 47 year old father of 3, married to Ms. Williams for 26 years. Throughout this trial, I am going to ask you to judge him as a human being and to pay attention to his training and experience."

Mr. Celli asked the jury to pay attention to the defense expert who will testify about training.

"What Ms. Meyers didn't mention is that a couple of days after that call, Sam Williams apologizes to Kelsey, tells Kelsey that they do not have any issues. Sam Williams leaves Kelsey alone."

"You will also see evidence from Rylie Williams about discussions between Mr and Mrs Williams. "

"Mrs. Williams not asking for divorce or separation. This is what Sam Williams received a few days before. Mrs. Williams just asked for space. Sam Williams hasn't fully moved out."

"It is not black and white; it is contextual. I'm never going to shade on Mrs. Williams or Kelsey."

"What I want you to focus on is what Mr. Williams knew. Mr. Williams works at the Coroner's office which is next to Sempervirens. What video and evidence will show is Mr. Williams recognizes Kelsey's car, says Kelsey is here, I am going to ask him to leave. He walks in and is surprised to see his wife having sex with another man."

"Mr. Williams knows Kelsey has a firearm. Based upon his training, the way he moves down the room and gets Kelsey out the door. It is to make sure Kelsey is out of the house, so nothing bad happens. His firearm goes up after he sees Kelsey's weapon. You hear Sam Williams call 911 so he can turn over Kelsey's firearm. Rylie Williams was present so there is a witness between him and his wife."

Court minutes with some relevant information regarding witnesses and motions: