Bail Reduction for Williams Is Sought

Attorneys for Damian Monroe Williams requested Friday that his $580,000 bail be reduced to $35,000 because he was found not guilty of the charges that could have gotten him a life sentence in the Reginald O. Denny beating trial.

Williams, who has been held since his arrest 17 months ago in the Los Angeles County Jail, was convicted of a reduced felony charge of simple mayhem for hitting Denny in the head with a brick. He also was convicted of four counts of misdemeanor assault stemming from attacks on others at Florence and Normandie avenues, the intersection where Denny was beaten.

Williams, 20, had been charged with attempted murder and aggravated mayhem--intentionally disfiguring or disabling a person. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison after his conviction on the lesser charges.

His co-defendant, Henry Keith Watson, 29, was released from jail Wednesday after being convicted of a single misdemeanor assault charge in the Denny beating. He had also been charged with attempted murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, as does aggravated mayhem.

Attorney Edi M.O. Faal, who represents Williams, wrote in his bail reduction request that Williams would not attempt to flee if he is released because he has close ties to his community, would lose visitation rights to his infant son, and does not have a passport to leave the country or money to sustain himself away from Los Angeles.

“Damian Williams would not be a danger or threat to society if released on bail,” Faal wrote, adding that “there is absolutely no evidence that any member of the public, particularly victims or witnesses of the alleged crimes, have been threatened by Mr. Williams.”

Any bail higher than $35,000 would be excessive, Faal wrote, arguing that a bail set at that amount would be reasonable. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 7.

A hearing on Faal’s motion to reduce bail has been set for Monday.