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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will not face legal charges stemming from an Oct. 8 traffic stop, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced. After reviewing a concealed weapons charge, prosecutors determined that the facts of the case and the intent of Michigan’s concealed pistol license (CPL) law did not support issuing charges.
Thorough Case Review
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy emphasized that Williams’ status as a professional athlete did not influence the decision.
“We did not consider that Mr. Williams is a Detroit professional athlete in our decision making,” she wrote. “We have charged Detroit area athletes before and would not have hesitated to do so again if the facts of this case could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
“When it comes to charging decisions, we do not take into consideration who the potential defendant is, how much power and influence they have, or how beloved they may be. We deal with the facts and the law only.”
The Detroit Police Department echoed the sentiment, praising prosecutors for their careful evaluation of the case.
“This case illustrates just how challenging on-scene arrest determinations and subsequent charging decisions can be in new and unique situations, such as the one here,” the statement read. “While no charges will be issued in this case, as an agency, we echo Prosecutor Worthy’s sentiment that no one is above the law.”
Incident Details
The traffic stop occurred early in the morning on Oct. 8, when police pulled over a black sedan with an obscured license plate that was reportedly speeding and driving unsafely. Williams was a passenger, while his brother was driving.
When asked about weapons in the vehicle, Williams’ brother informed officers of two guns: one in the back seat, registered to him, and another under the passenger seat, registered to Williams.
Although Williams did not have a concealed pistol license, prosecutors found that he would qualify for one and noted there was no evidence suggesting Williams was dangerous or had criminal intent. Williams, who identified himself as an NFL player during the stop, was briefly detained but released at the scene.
Call for Legislative Clarity
Prosecutor Worthy called for clearer legislation regarding CPL holders and firearm control in vehicles.
“The CPL holder here was the driver and had care, custody, and control of the car. The future requires guidance on how many weapons a valid CPL can claim to control. Despite all of this, if Mr. Williams had carried the gun on his person, authorities would have charged him,” Worthy said. “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.”
She urged Michigan lawmakers to review the CPL statute to provide better legal clarity for similar situations in the future.
Williams’ Response and NFL Career
Williams expressed relief and gratitude for the resolution.
“I feel blessed to be out of that situation and move forward,” Williams said. “It’s a serious matter and I felt relief that it didn’t turn into something bigger. “I understand the situation fully, but that’s not what’s on my mind right now, I’m kinda past it,” Williams said. “I got the news, the good news and I’m just focused on playing ball again, playing ball and getting back on the field.”
Williams, the 12th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Alabama, has been a key contributor to the Lions’ 10-1 start, their best in 90 years. Despite a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy, he ranks second on the team with 602 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
In Week 11, Williams had a career-best 124 receiving yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville. Lions head coach Dan Campbell emphasized the importance of Williams making smarter decisions moving forward.
“I think every one of these that come up, you don’t want them to come up, but I do think that he’s learning and he’s growing from these,” Campbell said.
The Lions, currently one of the NFL’s top teams, will rely on Williams’ continued growth and on-field contributions as they push for a deep playoff run.
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This report used information from ESPN.
