STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State athlete Darrell Williams will be sentenced Aug. 24 on three felony convictions, Payne County Judge Phillip Corley ordered after jurors returned guilty verdicts on three of five counts.
Williams, who has been free on bail, was placed in sheriff's custody pending formal sentencing. After the verdict was read Williams became quite emotional - weeping and moaning - and his two attorneys attempted to calm him down. Teammates who have been in court for much the past two weeks wept as well.
Jurors recommended a year imprisonment - the minimum - on each of two rape by instrumentation convictions and no jail time on a sexual battery conviction.
Williams had been accused of sexually assaulting two women at a Stillwater house party.
The eight-man, four-woman jury began deliberations at 12:20 p.m. Monday after hearing closing arguments from both sides in the case.
The panel notified the judge nearly eight and a half hours later the group had reached a verdict. The verdicts were read at 9 p.m.
Williams has been on trial for two weeks on four counts of rape by instrumentation and one count of sexual battery. Jurors came back with guilty verdicts on two rape counts and the sexual battery count.
A conviction on rape by instrumentation carries a sentence of no less than one year and no more than 15 years in prison. Sexual battery can carry a sentence of up to 10 years.
Williams, charged early last year following an investigation into the December 2010 allegations, has continued to receive a scholarship to OSU and practice with the team. Oklahoma State men's basketball head coach Travis Ford, who testified on Williams' behalf last week, said Williams was suspended from playing in games but continues to participate in all other team activities.
The two women Williams was accused of assaulting also testified, detailing for jurors when and how they were attacked.
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