Spartanburg Felon Sentenced in Federal Court in 'Stand Your Ground' Firearms Possession Case

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that, Douglas Lamar Williams, age 30, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Mary G. Lewis in Spartanburg to 78 months in federal prison. Williams previously entered a guilty plea in February to a federal indictment alleging felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing in February established that just after midnight on April 7, 2012, the defendant, Douglas Lamar Williams, returned to his apartment complex in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, as the front seat passenger in a vehicle driven by his girlfriend. Upon arrival, Williams observed, from the vehicle, what appeared to be two individuals attempting to break into the ground floor apartment he shared with his girlfriend. After telling his girlfriend to stop the car, Williams, a prohibited felon, exited the vehicle with a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver, approaching the two individuals while announcing his presence. Williams then shot the two individuals. The two individuals both sustained gunshot wounds to the head and died from their injuries.

Williams then returned to his girlfriend’s vehicle and instructed her to call 911 from a cell phone she had in the vehicle. A short time later, Williams and his girlfriend returned to the scene and met with law enforcement. Williams confirmed that he possessed the firearm, telling law enforcement that he shot the two individuals.

Williams, previous to his possession of the firearm and ammunition, has been convicted of a crime for which he could have received more than one year in prison. He has not received a pardon for said conviction. The firearm and ammunition possessed by Williams on April 7, 2012, had traveled or affected interstate or foreign commerce.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lance Crick handled the case.