Former Rockland County Inmate Convicted On Assault, Weapons Charges

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — A Spring Valley man who repeatedly fought with corrections officers while at the Rockland County Jail, and who was found twice with improvised weapons, now faces time in state prison.

Darius Williams, 34, was convicted after a two-day non-jury trial over criminal conduct on four separate occasions in 2023 while confined in the Rockland County Jail, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced Thursday.

Williams is currently incarcerated in a state correctional facility following a jury trial in July, having been convicted then for his unprovoked assault on a stranger in 2022 on a street in the village of Haverstraw.

The conviction Thursday stemmed from incidents in January, February and July at the county jail.

On Jan. 11, Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections officers conducted a search of Williams' cell. A white shank with a metal tip was discovered in his jail-issued jacket. The item is considered contraband within a correctional facility.

On Feb. 15, a Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections officer was assigned to escort Williams to his cell. The Sheriff’s Corrections officer removed Williams' handcuffs and told him to put his hands on the wall.

Immediately after the handcuffs were fully removed, Williams ran towards the corrections officer and punched him in the face. There was a struggle, as Williams continued to resist corrections officers. During the struggle, a Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections Sergeant was injured. He was treated for his injury at a local hospital and remained out of work for several months due to his injury.

Two days later, Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections officers responded to Williams’ cell to fix his broken cell door. Immediately after corrections officers were able to get the door open, Williams punched one officer in the face and lunged at the other. There was a struggle where the defendant continued to resist Correction officers. A Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections Sergeant was injured, treated at a local hospital, and remained out of work for several months due to his injury.

On July 31, Williams was changing into civilian clothes for a court appearance when a Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections officer observed an object bulging from one of his socks. A search uncovered a screw wrapped in a ripped shirt and toilet paper. The item is considered a weapon and prison contraband within a correctional facility.

"The defendant in this case while incarcerated at the Rockland County Jail has on multiple occasions attacked and injured Rockland County Sheriff’s Corrections officers. The defendant has now been convicted and he will be held fully accountable for his actions," Walsh said.

Willams was convicted of the following charges:

• 1 count of Promoting Prison Contraband in the 1st Degree (D Felony)
• 1 count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree (D Felony)
• 2 counts of Assault in the 2nd Degree (D Felony)
• 1 count of Assault in the 2nd Degree (D Felony)
• 1 count of Promoting Prison Contraband in the 1st Degree (D Felony)

He is scheduled for sentencing on March 13. He faces up to seven years in state prison on each count of Assault in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, and Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Nicole Garcia and Senior Assistant District Attorney
Emily McNiff prosecuted the case.

SEE ALSO: Rockland Man Convicted Over Box-Cutter Attack