Brewton man avoids trial; pleads guilty to sexual abuse, sodomy and enticing young boys
Smith
Moments before a jury was scheduled to begin hearing testimony in two of multiple charges against a Brewton man accused of sex acts with young boys, the defendant withdrew his not guilty plea and pleaded guilty to five charges.
Following the guilty pleas, Circuit Judge Jeff White sentenced William Douglas Smith 58, to 20 years in prison as recommended in the plea agreement.
A jury had already been selected to try Smith Wednesday morning on two counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12. Smith stood before Judge White and pleaded guilty of one count of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12, sodomy I, sodomy II, and two counts of enticing a child for immoral purposes.
Smith was sentenced to 20 years with the Department of Corrections on four of the counts and 17.5 years on one of the enticing charges. The sentences will run concurrently with Smith being granted the time he's already served in the Escambia County Detention Center.
Other charges against Smith were either nol prossed or dismissed.
Smith was first arrested on Feb. 14, 2017 on two counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 against two victims.
Following his arrest a third victim came forward and Smith was charged with sodomy II on a person more than 12 but less than 16.
On Jan. 22, 2019 Smith was released from jail on $125,000 bond but arrested again two days later after another juvenile victim came forward and Smith was charged with sex abuse I on warrants signed by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office. While at the bond hearing on that case, the Brewton Police Department served him with a warrant also charging him with sexual abuse I.
Smith had been alleged to have had sexual contact with about six underage boys.
Under sentencing guidelines Smith was facing two to 20 years in prison on each count but could have received a 99-year sentence due to a prior felony conviction.
Under the agreement Smith signed Wednesday he waived his right to appeal the decision. If released from prison Smith will have to register as a sex offender and cannot have any contact with any of the victims or their families.
District Attorney Steve Billy said the family members of the young victims supported the plea agreement.
"Their children had been victimized once by Smith, they didn't need to be victimized again by the court system and forced to testify and relive those incidents," Billy said.
Billy also noted that Smith's guilty plea of sodomy I against a child was a Class A felony and under Alabama law he will not be eligible for parole.
Billy said Smith pleaded guilty to at least one charge against each victim and said he still faces charges in Florida for an assault on one of the victims in this case.
