Clyde Eugene Williams began serving his term in jail as of last Friday, said 15th District Attorney Hal Kittrell.
Williams, 49 of Poplarville, was arrested in 2012 after a 17-year-old female alleged that she was the victim of molestation at the hands of Williams for the previous three years.
A formal hearing was held earlier this month where he was found guilty by a jury of his peers, according to court documents filed in the Pearl River County Circuit Court.
A motion for a retrial was filed after the conviction on the grounds that the “Court erred by granting the lesser included offense instruction,” the court document states.
He was indicted in 2013 for one count of sexual battery and two counts of attempted sexual battery. Before the jury was released to come to a conclusion based on the evidence presented during trial, which took place at the end of March of this year, they were given instruction “on fondling as a lesser included offense of sexual battery,” the documents state. He was convicted of those lesser offenses.
While awaiting the court’s decision on the motion for a retrial, Williams was released on house arrest.
On April 20, the court filed their opinion denying that request. Kittrell said Williams is now in jail. Booking records listed online state he was booked into the Pearl River County jail on April 22.
Williams was sentenced to two 15-year terms in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, to be served concurrently, meaning he will serve only 15 years. The court records state he will not be eligible for early release or parole.