Williams sentenced for 9 felonies, 1 misdemeanor

A Grand Rapids man is now serving time in prison after threatening a person with a gun in the city of Manistee, several months after he had been released from prison for unarmed robbery.

Kenneth Ray Williams, 43, was convicted of 10 charges by a Manistee County jury on March 22 and sentenced on May 22.

His Michigan Department of Corrections profile shows his earliest release date is June 22, 2032.

Williams was sentenced for nine felonies and one misdemeanor in Manistee County’s 19th Circuit Court by Judge David Thompson. 

He was given the following sentences for the charges:

1. Possession of methamphetamine: 10 to 40 years in prison;

2. Carrying concealed weapons: 4 to 20 years in prison;

3. Possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle: 3 years and 10 months to 15 years in prison;

4. Being a felon in possession of firearms: 4 years and 10 months to 20 years in prison;

5. Being a felon in possession of firearms: 4 years and 10 months to 20 years in prison;

6. Assault with a dangerous weapon, felonious assault: 4 years and 10 months to 15 years in prison; 

7. Felony firearms weapons charge: 2 years;

8. Felony firearms weapons charge: 2 years;

9. Felony firearms weapons charge: 2 years; and

10. Misdemeanor charge of brandishing a firearm in public: Minimum of 90 days in prison with credit for 90 days served.

He was also ordered to pay a $130 crime victims rights fee and $662 in state costs.

According to the Department of Corrections, Williams’ criminal history includes charges in Kent County for unarmed robbery, breaking and entering a building with intent, and retail fraud.

He had been released from prison on April 7, 2021 after serving time for an unarmed robbery in Kent County.

At about 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 9, 2021, the Manistee Police Department was dispatched to a call on the 300 block of Fifth Avenue for a report that a man was threatening another person with a shotgun in Manistee.

Police said Williams fled the scene in a vehicle.

“Responding officers were able to locate the vehicle and suspect a couple blocks from the scene,” a previous news release from police reads. “A subsequent investigation resulted in the seizure of a shotgun, a stolen handgun and controlled substances.”

On Oct. 25, 2021, Williams was arraigned in Manistee County’s circuit court on 10 counts from the incident. Williams entered a plea of not guilty to each charge and opted to represent himself.

From March 20-22, Williams represented himself at trial with the assistance of an attorney as standby counsel. The jury delivered a verdict of guilty on all counts on March 22.