Posted 10:05 pm Friday, February 01, 2013
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Tyler man gets 32 years for evading arrest
A Smith County jury sentenced a Tyler man to 32 years in prison Wednesday after finding him guilty on the same day for evading arrest.
Willie Howard Williams, 52, faced 25 years to life in prison because of prior felony convictions, prosecutor Whitney Tharpe said. Williams was on parole for a 1988 burglary and received a life sentence for that conviction, she said.
“He will have to go back and serve whatever the parole board determines on his life sentence and then his sentence in this (evading) case,” Ms. Tharpe said. For evading arrest, Williams must serve at least eight years before he is eligible for parole.
In the defendant’s case, he must serve a quarter of his time on the evading arrest charge after he finishes serving time on his parole revocation, Ms. Tharpe said. The parole board will decide the length of time that Williams must serve on the parole revocation, she said.
Willie Howard Williams, 52, faced 25 years to life in prison because of prior felony convictions, prosecutor Whitney Tharpe said. Williams was on parole for a 1988 burglary and received a life sentence for that conviction, she said.
“He will have to go back and serve whatever the parole board determines on his life sentence and then his sentence in this (evading) case,” Ms. Tharpe said. For evading arrest, Williams must serve at least eight years before he is eligible for parole.
In the defendant’s case, he must serve a quarter of his time on the evading arrest charge after he finishes serving time on his parole revocation, Ms. Tharpe said. The parole board will decide the length of time that Williams must serve on the parole revocation, she said.
Williams evaded arrest in the northwest area of Tyler. The pursuit was low speed, and lasted about three to five minutes, Ms. Tharpe said.
“The defendant evaded from Officer Mark Layne who disregarded the pursuit after a short time pursuant to the Tyler Police Department’s policy not to chase vehicles unless they have probable cause to believe they are a danger to the public,” she said.
Other officers in the area soon spotted Williams, but lost sight of him. But a short time later the vehicle was found at Williams’ residence on Bonner Street. Officers Mitch Rogers and Kevin Mobley were able to identify the defendant from seeing him earlier.
“The defendant evaded from Officer Mark Layne who disregarded the pursuit after a short time pursuant to the Tyler Police Department’s policy not to chase vehicles unless they have probable cause to believe they are a danger to the public,” she said.
Other officers in the area soon spotted Williams, but lost sight of him. But a short time later the vehicle was found at Williams’ residence on Bonner Street. Officers Mitch Rogers and Kevin Mobley were able to identify the defendant from seeing him earlier.
