This Is Out Of Hand!
By: Tommy “Tj” Sotomayor

It’s not the first time something like this happened recently. 

In Hillsborough, Florida, Joseph Edward Williams was released from jail amidst COVID-19 concerns on March 19, along with 163 other inmates. Williams was considered a “low level” inmate due to his charges being drug-related.

The next day, police say, he fatally shot a man.

Oh, by the way: Williams had been arrested 35 times prior to his mere drug charges. 

Thirty-five times. Just wanted to make sure you caught that.

His previous arrested included burglary and felon in possession of a firearm.

Sheriff Chad Chronister told Fox13:

“We didn’t go back at the time and look at people’s criminal history.”

Well, wouldn’t you say that was rather stupid, Sheriff? I’m sure Williams’ victims family would.

Apparently, they learned their lesson, as the Sheriff also said:

“That has since changed. People that we are releasing moving forward, we are checking their criminal history prior to being released.”

Oh, phew.

Sheriff Chronister continued:

“There is no question Joseph Williams took advantage of this health emergency to commit crimes while he was out of jail awaiting resolution of a low-level, non-violent offense.”

Well, yeah. He sure did. But then again, he’s a criminal, and that’s what they do. They take advantage. They don’t care about a pandemic, or about a stay at home order, or their victims.

The Sheriff, prosecutors, and judges, however, should know better. They are the ones that should have checked criminal history if they absolutely HAD to release criminals from jail without having gone through any type of rehabilitation. 

Here’s the original article we posted on Williams.

While COVID-19 has changed “business as usual” in most parts of the country, it has not kept criminals from doing what they want to do. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo recently pointed to a spike in criminal activity after the Harris County Judge started ordering the release of prisoners and inmates of the county detention facility. 

So, it should not be shocking to hear that a man released from the Hillsborough County, Florida Orient Road Jail was once again put behind bars, just hours after his release. 

Joseph Edward Williams was arrested on charges of second-degree murder, resisting an officer with violence, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia. The 26-year-old is being held on $250,000 bond. 

Police say he’s connected to a shooting on March 20 that left a man dead around 10:40 that night near 81st Street South and Ash Avenue.

According to WFMY News 2: 

“Williams was considered a ‘low-level’ offender, but the 26-year-old is no stranger to the criminal justice system.

He’s been arrested 35 times, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and was previously convicted of felony burglary and several misdemeanors.

‘There is no question Joseph Williams took advantage of this health emergency to commit crimes while he was out of jail awaiting resolution of a low-level, non-violent offense. As a result, I call on the State Attorney to prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law,’ Sheriff Chad Chronister said.

‘Judges, prosecutors, and Sheriffs around the country are facing difficult decisions during this health crisis with respect to balancing public health and public safety. Sheriffs in Florida and throughout our country have released non-violent, low-level offenders to protect our deputies and the jail population from an outbreak. Our commitment as an agency is to keep this community safe and enforce the law.

Every murder, every violent crime, especially those involving a gun, is a sickening example of the worst in our community, especially at a time when our community is working relentlessly to fight against the spread of this deadly COVID-19.’”

Keep in mind, this is the same sheriff that made headlines for holding a press conference to announce that they were issuing a warrant for the arrest of a pastor that held Sunday services after the issuance of the ‘stay at home’ order in Florida. He also did not send deputies to the pastor’s home because he is a gun-owner and the sheriff feared for the lives of his deputies. 

Notice anything missing from Chronister’s comments? Nothing about how this loss of life was avoidable. Nothing in the way of condolences or sympathy to the family of the victim. 

Just a “wow, we did not see that coming” mindset and a stab at gun control talking points. 

Good job sheriff.