On Thursday, January 23, 2025, Jacob Brian Williams, 39, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for Aggravated Assault Against a Public Servant in the 392nd District Court of Henderson County. Judge R. Scott McKee presided over the case, with District Attorney Jenny Palmer and Assistant District Attorney Jessica Bargmann representing the State.
The charges stemmed from a September 30, 2022, incident at America’s Best Value Inn and Suites in Gun Barrel City. Officers were dispatched to the hotel in response to reports of a man entering rooms without permission. Upon arrival, they located Williams behind a dumpster. He appeared to be under the influence and confirmed he was carrying weapons.
When officers attempted to conduct a pat-down search, Williams resisted, leading to a violent altercation. He struck and kicked officers, removed the body camera of one officer, and struck him over the head, causing serious injury. Officer Juan Luna testified that it required multiple officers, civilians, and firefighters to subdue Williams, who also caused injuries to several officers during the struggle.
The court considered Williams’ criminal history, which included a 2022 conviction for Resisting Arrest and a 2005 theft conviction that led to a revoked probation. Following the testimony, Williams received the 18-year sentence for his actions.
