LANCASTER — A 62-year-old man who kidnapped a 4-year-old girl from a Lancaster yard, but was foiled by the child’s teenage brother, was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years to life in state prison.
Earl Duane Williams also was ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Williams was convicted last month of kidnapping to commit a lewd act on a child and criminal threats in a connection with an incident that occurred Dec. 20, 2014.
Williams parked his recreational vehicle near the victim’s home around noon, approached the 4-year-old girl, hugged and kissed her and then carried her about 25 feet down the driveway toward his RV, according to court testimony.
The girl’s 13-year-old brother yelled for help and grabbed his sister’s arm and Williams’ jacket, prompting Williams to flee, according to Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami.
As he was being arrested and driven away, Williams threatened the girl’s mother, yelled profanities and racial slurs and said he would return and hurt the family, according to trial testimony.
The victim’s mother gave an impact statement at the sentencing hearing Wednesday.
“I’m glad my kids are safe,” the woman said. She said she forgave Williams for his actions, but she was “scared as hell” of Williams and his family.
“I’m just asking that they please leave us alone,” the child’s mother said.
Williams’ two sisters requested and was given an opportunity to address the court. They both disputed key details of the case and maintained Williams’ innocence.
“I know my brother would not kidnap anybody,” Deborah Thompson said.
“Nobody has listened to what he has to say,” Evelyn Williams said.
In a rambling address to the court, Williams said he was a Christian and he was “trying to do God’s work” when he came to the aid of the child. Williams referred to himself as “a victim of a crime I didn’t do.”
The prosecutor described Williams as a career criminal with a record dating back to 1981. Williams’ criminal history includes assault on a peace officer, an assault with a deadly weapon strike conviction, lewd acts, indecent exposure and DUI, according to the prosecutor.
“I’m obviously pleased with the sentence,” Hatami said. “At the end of the day, I think that justice was served. The community is safer.”
Previous related stories:
Man found guilty of kidnapping Lancaster girl from front yard
Man charged with kidnapping 4-year-old girl in Lancaster
El sancho says
He will get his share in prison. In prison word gets out quick of who is in for Leud acts on children and trust me when I tell you they make their life miserable. I’m glad someone was present to prevent anything from happening. Let this be a lesson to all parents keep an eye on your children at ALL times it only takes seconds for a tragedy to happen.
Trina_P says
She said she “forgave” him?
No way! I would never “forgive” anyone who touched my kids!
God may forgive. I don’t!
Matt K. says
Sometimes forgiveness is less about the perpetrator and more about the victim(s) trying to find peace from a nightmare. You forgive people more for yourself and your own peace of mind than anyone else, that way you can try to move to some sort of normalcy.
Philip says
Good words Matt. That is true. Although recidivism among molesters is high, some do find God and try to better themselves. I think this man is severely mentally ill, but I also think that the death penalty should be alive and well in California. He was trialed and judged by a jury in the USA, a luxury that many other countries do not afford those accused.
He was found guilty and he should be put out of his misery. It’s got to be a miserable thing for a person to understand what they did was a great injustice to their community, but for that person to not understand what they did was so wrong and torturous is a travesty.
Drown ’em like puppies.
Philip says
I forgot to add, Big Kudos to the 13-year-old brother who took on a man’s role to defend his little sister. This youngster is going to be somebody.
HEMi says
everyone gets very confused when they hear a person say they forgive someone for what they have done even when it’s something this terrible…I was a victom of someone that was years later finally caught. I survived, I grabbed and wrestled this man for the gun that he had pointed at me. when it was over he tried to flee on a bicycle but I pulled that right out from under him….I hunted him for two weeks cause I was going to take his life for the 10 staple I had gotten on my head and situation he put me through. and the hate I carried for those 2 weeks was nearly unbearable. finally it ran into him at the corner store. I looked at him in the eyes and something in my mind told me to forgive him and in that moment all the hate I had was gone…crazy right, not really… if this woman held a grudge she wouldn’t be able to feel the appreciation that nothing got to happen and that her son did a great job preventing the situation.. the guys sisters on the other hand don’t know there brother very well, apperrently.
Lozano says
Now that this perv is locked up, throw away the key!
Lozano says
“Williams’ two sisters requested and was given an opportunity to address the court. They both disputed key details of the case and maintained Williams’ innocence.
“I know my brother would not kidnap anybody,” Deborah Thompson said.
“Nobody has listened to what he has to say,” Evelyn Williams said.”
Wow! Denial all the way down to the last minute.