Clyde Eugene Williams remains on house arrest, after being convicted and sentenced on two charges of child molestation.
Last week 49-year-old Williams of Poplarville, was found guilty of two counts of child molestation by a jury of his peers, according to previous coverage by the Item. The charges stemmed from a report from a juvenile in 2012 that she had been the victim of the crime for three years, beginning when she was 14-years-old.
Three months of investigation, combined with bodily fluid evidence collected from the scene of the crime, led to his arrest and subsequent conviction, according to previous coverage.
While awaiting sentencing, which took place Thursday, 15th Circuit Court Judge Anthony Mozingo released Williams on house arrest, said 15th District Attorney Hal Kittrell.
“Our position was to ask that he remain in jail until sentencing,” Kittrell said.
However, Williams’ wife indicated in open court that the case was disrupting the family, which includes their 5-year-old daughter, Kittrell said.
Thursday, Mozingo sentenced Williams to two 15-year jail terms with the Mississippi Department of Corrections, to be served concurrently, meaning he will serve only 15 years, Kittrell said.
After sentencing on Thursday, Williams submitted a motion for a new trial and a bond pending appeal, according to a release from Kittrell’s office.
That same day a hearing was held concerning the appeals, which the court announced they would rule on within 15 days, the release states. Until a ruling is made, the court allowed Williams to remain on the same bond under house arrest, but did require Williams to register as a sex offender with his Poplarville address, the release states.
The Item contacted Mozingo’s attorney, Tim Evans, in an attempt to get in touch with Mozingo for comment. Evans said he would have Mozingo get in touch with the Item at his earliest convenience, which had not occurred by press time Thursday.