Former Humboldt County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Sentenced in Domestic Violence Case
Samuel David Williams Booking Photo | Humboldt County Correctional Facility
A former Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department lieutenant, Samuel Williams, was sentenced today for felony charges related to a domestic violence incident last year. The sentencing follows a conviction by a Humboldt County jury on March 29, 2024, which found Williams guilty of making criminal threats and brandishing a firearm.
Judge Canning sentenced him to 90 days in jail and supervised probation for two years.
According to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s office, on March 24, 2023, Williams, then off-duty, entered the McKinleyville home of his estranged wife unannounced and threatened to kill her male friend while brandishing a firearm. The incident, which occurred around the early morning hours, escalated quickly, resulting in Williams pointing his firearm at the unarmed man.
Williams previous to his promotion to lieutenant was a sergeant in charge of the Garberville area beginning in 2018.
In April of last year, Sheriff William Honsal expressed his disappointment over the incident, stating, ““The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office will not tolerate criminal behavior in its ranks and will hold employees accountable for their actions,” Sheriff William Honsal said. “We are committed to holding our employees to a high ethical standard. Acts such as this do not reflect our values, principles or commitment to our communities. We take these obligations seriously and strive to be a trusted law enforcement organization.””
Williams, who was hired by the department on April 30, 2001, had been on paid administrative leave following the incident until his arrest. We don’t know if he how long he continued to be paid.
Press release from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office:
On March 29, 2024, a Humboldt County jury convicted 47 years-old Samuel Williams of felonious criminal threats and brandishing a firearm. During early morning hours of March 24, 2023, Williams made an unannounced entry into the McKinleyville home of his estranged wife wherein she and her male friend were located. Without provocation, Williams threatened to kill the friend and pointed his firearm at the unarmed man causing him to fear for his life.
Today, during the sentencing hearing the Honorable Judge Timothy Canning placed Williams on formal supervised probation for a period of 2 years and ordered Williams to serve 90 days in jail for his crimes.
The case was prosecuted by DDA Candace Myers with assistance from DA Investigator Steve Dunn. Williams was represented by local attorney David Celli.
District Attorney Stacey Eads extends her gratitude to the jurors for their time and service.
Please note: An earlier version of this story posted the Sheriff’s Press release from April of last year instead of the DA’s press release. And failed to include the sentence.
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Right Honsal, all this time he was a well adjusted person and you saw no signs of him being this kind of person.
And the dude is still getting paid? That should be a crime in itself. At least they didn’t promote him to captain.
You’ve obviously never had to fill out the paperwork to fire a government employee.
Often off duty misbehavior doesn’t merit intervention by any employer until it’s found to be illegal or immoral. People are generally sober at work, for example, but can go nuts off duty when drunk. Not saying that’s the case here, only saying our Sheriff has many barriers to taking action against his deputies both from union contracts and state employer laws. Bill is an honest and smart family man. We’re lucky to have him as the reeve of our shire.
When you carry a gun and have absolute power over someone, then their off duty conduct matters.
This behavior is ingrained in people. It was doubtless not the first time he threatened or bullied his wife and/or other people. His fellow officers were probably aware of it. Just the look of him is kind of intimidating.
Think about the fact that you have no direct knowledge of the circumstances or facts. Sorry you’re scared by a picture posted on line. You must scare easily.
Really ? He looks like someone who never missed a meal once in his life and who never had to fight once in his life because his mother was always there to fight them for him. To me anyways he looks like a punk and the only reason he wasnt proven to be one on the job was his badge and gun
When a woman tells you,
“Stay away from me, I don’t want you around.”,
what she’s really saying is,
“Im hoping you will come over late to menace my new date, and intimidate me into recognizing my undying love for your fat faced man child vibe.”
“I want a man who is not afraid to nut up and lose his job over me!” It’s what every woman wants: danger and instabilities.
You get what you pay for. Humboldt does not pay very well so it is hard to get and retain good people. Not saying anything against all the officers there, I am sure many are good honest people but cops in general last few years have been hiring people they would not have considered a few years before. Why? Anti cop mentality and lack of pay etc.
“Sheriff” Honsal, if this behavior is not tolerated in the department, then why is your in house sexual predator still a deputy? Is it because he has a close relative who is also a Lieutenant? Or do you only not tolerate this behavior when it becomes public knowledge?
You, William Honsal are not fit to be Sheriff. Your incompetent “leadership” as well as your turning a deaf ear to the criminals you employ as law enforcement is no surprise, since you care only about yourself and your political career as “Sheriff.” Please do the community a favor, fire the sexual predator and then resign.
Easy for you to say Alf. Back up your rant with facts if you have them. Don’t just say things that you or anyone else can’t prove.
Honsal knows exactly who I am talking about and that it’s been going on for years and has been reported many times. You don’t have a need to know the details at this time. Honsal is a coward when it comes to this type of reporting. I personally stopped all volunteer activities with HCSO because of this. I have no desire to be in the same room breathing the same air as Honsal. He is far too repulsive.
Why don’t the “details” aka facts matter “at this time”? If not now when?
Let me spell it out for you. I can categorically say that I don’t trust you or anything you say. Why, you ask? Because of many experiences I had with you in the past. I’m simply pointing out that because of these experiences, I had no choice but to sever all ties to you. In my opinion, that is enough said. Do you think the online community needs more details? I don’t. Simply pointing out wrongdoing in the past as a reason I don’t trust someone should be enough.
Well, I don’t know who you’re talking about and I’d like to know. And if it’s true, then you should report it publicly. There’s a difference between someone who did something in the past and changed and someone who’s actively continuing to screw up.
That’s not worthy of response. Try something more coherent
I don’t understand something. Why don’t we require/reward individuals like Williams to participate in mental health therapy? Any male understands how easy it could be to lose it over a female.
“Any male understands how easy it could be to lose it over a female.”
To the point of violence? No.
So, if a defendant is violent they are legally barred from therapy?
Ummm…okay so did WE just pay this guy for the whole last year to NOT work and be on leave for pointing the gun and breaking the law? WE did, didn’t we?! Our tax money which I am already pissed about the county wasting away was used for …This?!! And now here comes the civil lawsuit, right? And WE will pay for the lawyers on both sides after WE lose and then WE will pay the damages? But I’m guessing that WE shouldn’t be angry because this is just normal Cost of Doing Business? Wow!
90 days – for busting into a home, with a GUN and threatening to MURDER his ex and her companion? Wow. Little slap on the wrist for the insecure homicidal abuser.
Also, I did not fail to notice how this incident has now been softened in sentencing.
Originally he was “reported to have brandished a firearm and MADE THREATS TO HIS ESTRANGED WIFE and her boyfriend, ” here they claim he only threatened her lover. Typical patriarchal “justice” system protecting the male perps while the female victims are diminished and forgotten.
F$&k that guy, and every cowardice man who lays a hand on a woman. Femicide is hate crime! #breakthesilence
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Once again this paper misrepresents the actuality of the situation. He didnt need to announce his arrival it was still his house, he was paying for it not his wife and he was returning for items as he was in the process if moving out not like it had been awhile. His wife meanwhile was engaged in an affair with the male friend literally at the time. Do you not think that would upset a husband? And the male friend also (not mentioned) had a fire arm in with his discarded clothes thus as a trained officer he would make sure he didnt take it out while exiting the property. There is so much more than is said here so all you internet trolls who have no idea should do more research and know the biased bent this news source often reports with.
Sounds like risky behavior bringing a boyfriend to the marital house. There is Motel 6, idk???
“at about 5:14 a.m”
I’m sure . Mr innocent, just popping by to grab some stuff at pre-dawn thirty. Makes total sense. ?
The information is all taken from press releases either by the Sheriff’s Department or from the District Attorney. If you can show where I have a bias bent besides where it came from them, then I’ll remove that section and apologize.
Also, I personally liked Sam from my dealings with him. I kept hoping it wasn’t as bad as it sounded at first.
Why do cops and domestic violence go hand in hand??? It’s wild how often abusers end up being part of law enforcement.
It’s because the Chiefs and Sheriff’s are better at covering it up or sweeping it under the rug than doing what is right, plain and simple.
Right on. Juries usually get this, fortunately.
Seriously? When did you start holding your deputies accountable? Because I personally reported some of your deputies tormenting the mentally ill, on multiple security camera angles, and you ignored it.