White Sox Exec Ken Williams' Former Stepson Acquitted Of Sexual Assault
CHICAGO (STMW) -- The former stepson of White Sox executive Ken Williams was acquitted Tuesday of sexually assaulting a woman at the Palmer House hotel because a judge did not find his accuser credible.
Dedrick Williams, 30, was charged with criminal sexual assault, unlawful restraint and misdemeanor domestic battery, but Judge Nicholas Ford found him not guilty following a three-day bench trial, according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Stephen Campbell.
Williams' attorney, Terry Ekl, said Judge Ford cleared his client of the charges after prosecutors rested their case. Ekl never even called a witness, instead asking for the immediate verdict.
The judge said he did not find the accuser credible, noting that she lied repeatedly, Ekl said.
He said Williams was "really happy" with the outcome.
According to prosecutors, the former stepson of the executive vice president of the White Sox was at the Palmer House on Jan. 12, attending "an event" with his ex-girlfriend.
At some point, Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Sexton said at Williams' bond hearing, the two had been drinking when Williams became "verbally aggressive" with the woman.
They later went up to his room, where he beat and sexually assaulted her, leaving her with a black eye and "extensive bruising," Sexton said.
Witnesses heard the woman scream, "Help me!" numerous times from within the room, and at one point she opened the door and continued to yell for help, according to Sexton.
A friend of the victim later took her to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she reported the assault, according to prosecutors.
Williams, a former pro baseball scout and most recently an insurance agent, was arrested at his home in the 4700 block of North Central Avenue, and initially ordered held on a $150,0000 bond.
After the bond hearing, Ken Williams told the Sun-Times he hadn't had any contact with Dedrick Williams for "a couple of years" and wasn't even aware of the charges until being called by a reporter.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
