New judge named for retrial of man charged with killing Sheriff “Big John” Williams

“Big John” Williams / Source: Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office

A new judge has been named for the upcoming retrial of the man charged with killing Lowndes County Sheriff “Big John” Williams.

Retired Circuit Judge Allen Jolley of Marshall County has been named for the retrial of William Chase Johnson.

Johnson is charged with killing Sheriff Williams in 2019. Johnson was 18 at the time.

The sheriff was shot outside of a gas station in Hayneville when he arrived to disperse a crowd and to tell Johnson to turn down his radio.

Williams was 62 years old. He spent more than 40 years in law enforcement and had first been elected as Lowndes County Sheriff in 2010. The courthouse has been named in his memory.

Johnson’s original trial ended in a mistrial two years ago because the jury said it couldn’t reach a verdict.

The trial had been moved to Macon County after it was decided that Johnson couldn’t get a fair trial in Lowndes County.

His attorneys say he shot the sheriff in self-defense because they say Sheriff Williams wasn’t in uniform when he was shot and Johnson didn’t know who he was.

Prosecutors say Johnson shot the sheriff out of anger.

Judge Jolley was named under the state’s new “Speedy Trial Act,” which allows the chief justice to appoint sitting or retired judges to handle violent criminal cases and reduce court backlogs at the request of the attorney general or a district attorney.

In naming Judge Jolley, Alabama Chief Justice Sarah Stewart said that “the interests of the public require the expeditious resolution of this case to prevent undue delay and ensure the prompt administration of justice.”