Memphis basketball recruit Mikey Williams, who was once ranked as the No. 2 player in his class, has been ordered to stand trial on six felony gun charges by a Superior Court judge in California on Tuesday. Williams is accused of firing a gun at a car with five people inside it in March 2023.
What happened on March 27, 2023?
According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Williams was involved in an argument with some uninvited guests at his $1.2 million home in Jamul, a rural area east of San Diego. As the guests were leaving in a car, Williams allegedly fired several shots at them, hitting the vehicle but not injuring anyone.
Williams was arrested on April 13, 2023 and booked on five counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of firing into an occupied vehicle. He was released on a $50,000 bond and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
What did the judge decide on October 10, 2023?
On Tuesday, Judge Sherry M. Thompson-Taylor ruled that there was enough evidence to move the case forward to trial. She scheduled Williams’ arraignment for October 24, 2023 and denied the prosecution’s request to increase his bail to $500,000.
The judge said that although no witnesses saw Williams fire a gun, there was probable cause based on testimony that witnesses saw him with a gun and heard him threaten to kill them. The prosecution also said they may add more charges after learning that there were six people in the car and that Williams had other weapons in his house.
The judge also warned the public gallery not to make any gestures or expressions that could intimidate the witnesses, after the deputy district attorney reported some incidents during the preliminary hearing.
What is the status of Williams’ basketball career?
Williams, a 6-foot-2 combo guard, signed with Memphis in November 2022 after receiving offers from Kansas, Oregon, USC and others. He was ranked as the No. 39 overall player in the 2023 class by 247Sports and was expected to be a key contributor for the Tigers this season.
However, due to his legal situation, Williams is not currently with the team and does not have access to team facilities or activities. He is enrolled in online classes at Memphis and remains on the roster, but his status will be determined when the court case is resolved, the school said in September.
Memphis began its fall training camp on September 25 without Williams and will open its season on November 6 against Jackson State.
Williams was one of the first stars of the name, image and likeness era, securing a multiyear deal with Puma in 2021. He could face up to 28 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
