ST. GEORGE — Following a multi-agency search that went on for three weeks and ultimately led to the arrest of an escapee in June, the suspect who jumped from a van during transport appeared for sentencing Tuesday. He learned he would be going to prison to serve multiple sentences that were suspended in his original cases.
On June 27, Gavin David Williams, 20, of St. George, appeared for a disposition hearing on multiple felony charges, including first-degree felony aggravated robbery and second-degree felony destruction of property, as well as third-degree felony theft and assault, along with a misdemeanor failing to stop at command of police charge. The hearing was held to resentence the defendant on two separate cases after Williams admittedly escaped from a treatment center van on May 10.
Three cases
The first case was filed following an incident reported on Sept. 18, 2022, involving a vehicle theft, during which, the victim’s wallet, credit cards and the vehicle were stolen. The car was recovered shortly thereafter and Williams was identified as the suspect responsible using surveillance footage captured during the initial theft, as well as when the bank cards were used. He was then charged with second-degree theft and felony bank card charges.
The second case was filed following an incident reported Jan. 23, 2023, in Bloomington Hills involving a shots fired call, as previously reported by St. George News.
Detectives at the scene then learned an individual had just arrived at the emergency room of St. George Regional Hospital with six gunshot wounds to his right arm. Investigators later identified eight suspects, one of whom was Williams, who allegedly provided the weapons and was one of the shooters.
The third case was filed on Feb. 24, 2023, involving a teen that was robbed at gunpoint in a remote area off Turkey Farm Road in Washington County. Williams was arrested that same night and was charged with aggravated robbery and assault by a prisoner, as well as several misdemeanors.
While in jail on the Turkey Farm Road robbery, he was charged in the Bloomington shooting with first-degree felony aggravated robbery and attempted murder, as well as criminal conspiracy and felony weapons charges following the incident.
Prison suspended in three cases
The journey to the disposition hearing began on May 9, when Williams appeared in 5th District Court for sentencing on multiple charges filed in three separate cases. Charges included third-degree felony theft in the car jacking case and a 0-5 year prison sentence was suspended in the case.
He was also sentenced on the charges filed in the Bloomington shooting that included first-degree felony aggravated robbery and second-degree felony destruction of property. The prison terms of five to life and one to 15 years were suspended in the case.
On the charges related to the Turkey Farm Road case that included aggravated robbery and felony criminal mischief, the defendant was ordered to serve one year in jail, which he had already served, while the two 0-5 year prison terms were suspended in the case. The attempted murder charge was dismissed.
Instead of sending the defendant to prison, Williams was placed on three years of probation and ordered to complete an intensive two-year residential program at the Other Side Academy.
Flight, pursuit and apprehension
On May 10, one day after the hearing, Williams was released from jail into the custody of the academy staff to be transported to the residential facility located near Salt Lake City. While en route, Williams opened the van door and fled through downtown Salt Lake City, which set off a multi-agency search across Utah.
He remained at large until May 31, when he was located and arrested by the U.S. Marshals Office in Salt Lake City. Six days later, he was transported to Washington County and booked into jail on a no-bail hold.
On June 13, Williams appeared for a show cause hearing on the warrant, during which he admitted to the allegations indicating he fled from the treatment van to avoid going to the academy. A disposition hearing was scheduled to take place on June 27 for the purpose of sentencing the defendant.
Day of reckoning
That day came during the disposition hearing held on June 27, that started out with statements made to the court prior to Williams being sentenced. The first was Prosecutor Grace Deist, who said the state’s position was that Williams needed to serve his time in prison on the sentences that were previously suspended in the case, just as the judge had mentioned during the hearing held on June 13.
At that point the defendant’s mother also addressed the court, stating she wanted to give some background on her son, who has not always been in trouble, Williams was recently playing sports and had even applied to attend a local college, she said, but that was before her son’s life started spiraling downwards, a spiral that culminated in the cases that landed him in jail.
She went on to say that since her son’s recent arrest, he has been working hard to change his life and has reached out the local recovery community — including those who were in attendance for sentencing. She also said her son is ready to receive help for the first time in his life.
“Unfortunately, his readiness did not come soon enough,” she said, referring to the failed transport to the Other Side Academy. “I feel he’s able to be successful at this time — for the first time in 20 years.”
An agent with the U.S. Marshals Office also spoke during the hearing and said they were called in to assist soon after Williams went on the run.
When Williams was ultimately arrested by the Salt Lake team, the agent said, they found him at a location where narcotics were known to be used and sold.
The prosecutor told the judge that Williams’ decision to flee from the treatment van resulted in a stressful three weeks for both the agents with the U.S. Marshals Office and Adult Probation and Parole, given the defendant’s violent criminal history. She went on to say the state had made it clear during the sentencing hearing held in May that two years at The Other Side Academy was the defendant’s last chance and the only alternative to a prison sentence.
“This was a sweetheart deal — two years at the Other Side Academy,” she said.
It was only later that Deist learned through a number of jail calls that Williams he had no intention of going to the academy, she said, even before he ever stepped into that van that day.
She also said the defendant needed to serve his time in prison on the sentences that were previously suspended in the case, just as the judge had mentioned during the hearing held two weeks before.
It’s the state’s position that Mr. Williams is violent and his history shows that he’s willing and able to do terrible things and put people’s lives in danger — and that makes him a danger to society.
Defense weighs in
Williams was represented by defense attorney Steven Nielsen, who said it would be an understatement to say that his client has had a difficult life and has suffered many losses and rejections. While there are those in similar situations who are able to manage those setbacks without getting involved in criminal activity, that was not the case with Williams, who likely needed more help than the legal system could provide, he said.
When the defendant ran from the van that day, Nielsen said, his client, who had recently lost his fiancé, only wanted to say goodbye to his family members before ending his own life, the defense attorney said. He added that Williams has been apologetic for keeping everyone worried for three weeks.
“I think that there’s still a shot for this young man to live a fruitful life and not to cause the harm that he’s done to other individuals,” Nielsen said
He then asked that his client serve a year in jail instead of sending him to prison.
Promises kept
Judge Barnes said the defendant’s decision to run had a significant impact on many officers, agents and others, including himself.
“You bet I was concerned during those three weeks before you were picked up,” the judge said. “You bet I thought I had made a mistake.”
The judge was referring to the sentence handed down in May that gave Williams the opportunity to avoid prison by completing the two-year program. He also said the state was clear in the plea agreement what would happen if Williams failed to complete the program.
As for asking for mercy, the judge said the defendant had already been shown mercy.
The judge went on to say the fact that Williams had a difficult life is a factor the court considers during sentencing, but the underlying facts of this case involved gunshots, drugs, a victim who almost died. After all of that, Barnes said, the defendant was given the opportunity to go to a program that could change his life.
“And you don’t even make it to the program — you run,” Barnes said.
The judge said that his decision was really made by Williams when he signed the plea agreement that stated if he failed at the program, the original prison sentences “shall be imposed, not may be imposed, or maybe we’ll consider that on a later date. But shall be imposed.”
Williams was then sentenced to serve four terms in prison between the three cases, including five years to life, 1-15 years and two o-5 year sentences that were ordered to run concurrently.
“You will now be transported to the Department of Corrections to serve those sentences,” Barnes added.
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