NOW. ONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS ACCUSED OF ABUSING AN 18 YEAR OLD RELATIVE IN ZERINGUE NOW KNOWS WHAT HIS FATE COULD BE. 21 YEAR OLD AARON WILLIAMS PLEADED GUILTY TO KIDNAPING AND WILLFUL INJURY CHARGES FOR HIS ROLE. vlog KAYLA JAMES WAS IN THE STORY COUNTY COURTROOM THIS MORNING WHERE MORE ABOUT THAT HORRIBLE SITUATION WAS REVEALED. THIS CASE UNFOLDED BACK IN JANUARY WHEN THE VICTIM CAME TO AN AMES HOSPITAL MALNOURISHED AND WITH LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. AARON WILLIAMS IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE INVESTIGATORS SAY CAUSED THAT TO THE VICTIM. AND TODAY HE ADMITTED TO SOME OF WHAT HE DID. 21 YEAR OLD AARON WILLIAMS WALKING INTO THIS STORY COUNTY COURTROOM TUESDAY MORNING, WAITING TO HEAR IF THE JUDGE WOULD ACCEPT THE PLEA DEAL. HE MADE WITH THE STATE. THE COURT HEREBY ACCEPTS DEFENDANT’S PLEA OF GUILTY. BUT NOT BEFORE HE HAD TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SURROUNDING HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE ABUSE OF A FAMILY MEMBER. DID YOU HAVE ANY AUTHORITY OR CONSENT FROM LW TO HANDCUFF HIM TO THE BED AND CONFINE HIM? NO. JUDGE ANGELA DOYLE ASKING ABOUT WILLIAMS’S ACTIONS AGAINST THE 18 YEAR OLD VICTIM. I HIT HIM IN THE HEAD WITH A CANE BETWEEN APRIL OF 2023 AND JANUARY 26TH OF THIS YEAR. WHO DID YOU AID AND ABET? GRAHAM JUNIOR. HE HIT WITH HIS FIST AND KICKED HIM. COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW THE VICTIM TOLD POLICE HE WAS EXPOSED TO PHYSICAL ABUSE BY 44 YEAR OLD GARY GRAHAM. JUNIOR AND WILLIAMS, THE MAN ALSO ADMITTING TO POLICE. WILLIAMS, GRAHAM JUNIOR AND THE TWO OTHER SUSPECTS DID NOT HELP HIM WHEN NEEDED. WILLIAMS ATTORNEY, ALLEGING IN COURT TUESDAY THAT CHANGED IN JANUARY. DID YOUR FAMILY BECOME CONCERNED THAT LW WAS DYING? YES. AND THAT WAS BECAUSE HE WAS NOT BEING FED? YES. AND HAD BEEN HIT? YES. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IF YOU DID NOT GET HIM MEDICAL CARE IMMEDIATELY, THAT LW WOULD IN FACT DIE? YES. COURT DOCUMENTS REVEAL THE VICTIM WAS ADMITTED TO A HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES SUCH AS A BRAIN BLEED, RIB FRACTURES, BRUISING AND MORE. ALL OF THEM CAUSING THE BEGINNING OF THE INVESTIGATION LEADING TO THIS MOMENT. NO BOND WILL BE SET BECAUSE EACH OF THESE TWO OFFENSES ARE FORCIBLE FELONIES. WILLIAMS STAYING IN CUSTODY AWAITING HIS SENTENCING DATE. THE STOREY COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE IS RECOMMENDING HE BE SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON IN STOREY COUNTY. KAYLA JAMES vlog EIGHT NEWS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER NOW, THERE ARE THREE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS CASE. GARY GRAHAM IS SET TO GO TO TRIAL IN DECEMBER. DANIELLE GRAHAM GOES TO TRIAL IN MARCH AND KATELYN WILLIAMS, WHO WAS 16 AT THE TIME OF HER AR
Zearing man pleads guilty to kidnapping charges
![vlog logo]()
Updated: 5:26 PM CDT Oct 15, 2024
A Zearing man charged with kidnapping and abusing a family member pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to all counts before a Story County judge.Aaron Williams, 21, is one of four people charged in the case. This plea hearing allowed him to change his plea to guilty approximately seven months after he pleaded not guilty.A judge agreed to change his charge from first-degree kidnapping to third-degree.Williams is one of four people charged in the case. Court documents say back in January, an adult man was admitted to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and malnutrition."As part of this agreement, Mr. Williams has agreed to provide sworn testimony against his co-defendants," said Tiffany Meredith, a Story County assistant attorney. Gary Graham is set to go to trial Dec. 3. Danielle Graham goes to trial in March. Kaitlynn Williams, who was 16 at the time of her arrest, will be tried as an adult in January.Aaron Williams admitted to hitting the victim in the head with a cane, handcuffing him, and helping keep him confined to a room. When asked who he aided and abetted, Williams named Graham. "He hit L.W. with his fists and kicked him," said Williams during Tuesday's hearing. Williams could now face 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
ZEARING, Iowa — A Zearing man charged with kidnapping and abusing a family member pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to all counts before a Story County judge.
Aaron Williams, 21, is one of four people charged in the case. This plea hearing allowed him to change his plea to guilty approximately seven months after he pleaded not guilty.
A judge agreed to change his charge from first-degree kidnapping to third-degree.
Williams is one of four people charged in the case. Court documents say back in January, an adult man was admitted to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and malnutrition.
"As part of this agreement, Mr. Williams has agreed to provide sworn testimony against his co-defendants," said Tiffany Meredith, a Story County assistant attorney.
Gary Graham is set to go to trial Dec. 3. Danielle Graham goes to trial in March. Kaitlynn Williams, who was 16 at the time of her arrest, will be tried as an adult in January.
Aaron Williams admitted to hitting the victim in the head with a cane, handcuffing him, and helping keep him confined to a room.
When asked who he aided and abetted, Williams named Graham.
"He hit L.W. with his fists and kicked him," said Williams during Tuesday's hearing.
Williams could now face 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
