The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office has decided not to charge Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams with a gun-related offense after a traffic stop in early October, as per reports from multiple sources. The stop occurred when Williams was riding with his brother, who was pulled over for speeding and having an obscured license plate.
During the incident, which took place around 1 a.m. on Oct. 8, Williams' brother, disclosed to the detaining officers that he had two guns in the car, one of which was under Jameson Williams' seat. Despite Williams' brother showing a valid Concealed Pistol License (CPL) for the weapons, Williams himself did not have a CPL, leading to his arrest before he was released at the scene when a Detroit Police Department supervisor arrived, WXYZ reported.
In considering whether to charge Williams, Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office found a lack of precedent for the specific details of this case, stating in a release obtained by FOX 2 Detroit, "We really could not recall any case that had facts that mirrored this case. Every case is fact specific." The legality for the situation, where the CPL holder was not the one with the weapon under their immediate control, appeared nebulous with insufficient statutory guidance to warrant a charge against Williams.
Additionally, the prosecutor's findings raised concerns about the number of firearms a CPL holder can legally possess, indicating that a review of the legislation may be necessary, “I urge the legislature to immediately look closely at this law so that the prosecutors in Michigan can have steady and meaningful guidance in the future,” Worthy said. However, Worthy confirmed that had Williams had the gun on his person, he would have faced charges. Worthy’s stance emphasizes an acknowledgment of gaps within Michigan’s gun laws, specifically regarding the application and limits of a CPL — a point similarly highlighted by criminal defense attorney Jeff Kramer in his commentary to CBS News Detroit.
The legal complexities of the case garnered significant attention, partly due to Williams' profile as a professional athlete. Jeff Kramer shared this sentiment in his comments to CBS News Detroit, "If this was Joe Smith pulled over, the officer would've sent the warrant request and it would've been approved without any questions being asked." The decision not to file charges was based on a thorough legal review, without regard to Williams' public persona, according to a statement from Worthy, as reported by all news outlets.
