Salisbury, MD – On January 19, 2023, the Honorable Kathleen L. Beckstead, Chief Judge of the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, sentenced Nashala Williams, 21 years of age, to fifteen (15) years of incarceration in the Division of Corrections.
On September 19, 2022, Williams entered a guilty plea to First Degree Assault, Second Degree Assault, and Illegal Possession of a Regulated Firearm. Sentencing was deferred pending the completion of a pre-sentence investigation.
On February 28, 2022, Williams rear-ended a vehicle in the area of Snow Hill Road and South Park Drive. Williams then left the scene of the accident. The operator of the hit vehicle, and his passenger, pursued Williams and caught up to her at an intersection. At that time, Williams exited her vehicle and approached the two victims in their vehicle.
Williams then brandished a handgun and pointed the firearm at both victims while levying threats against them. Williams returned to her vehicle and drove away; meanwhile the victims reported the incident to the Salisbury Police Department, who located Williams shortly thereafter and attempted to stop her.
Williams fled from the officers in a high-speed pursuit, which ended when Williams crashed her vehicle in the yard of a residence. Officers were able to detain Williams, and a search of her vehicle revealed a loaded .380-caliber handgun with eight rounds in the magazine and one live round of ammunition positioned in the chamber. Williams is prohibited from possessing firearms due to her criminal history.
Wicomico County State’s Attorney (SA) Jamie L. Dykes said, “Random acts of violence will never be tolerated in Wicomico County. I am grateful for the prompt and courageous response by law enforcement who apprehended Williams at great risk to themselves, as well as the just sentence imposed by the Court that will ensure the safety of our community, and will hopefully restore peace and security to the victims of this frightening ordeal.”
SA Jamie Dykes commended the many members of the Salisbury Police Department who acted in quickly apprehending this defendant, and for their work in the investigation. SA Dykes also commended Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Calabrese, who prosecuted the case.