Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Eligible For Parole In 15 Years For August 1995 Shooting

A man who killed his ex-wife has been sentenced to 60 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

Herbert L. Williams, 40, of Prescott, agreed to a plea arrangement in the Nevada County Circuit Court Thursday, Jan. 4.

Along with pleading guilty to the murder of Linda Williams, he pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was charged as a habitual offender because of his repeated brushes with the law.

The plea was worked out between Williams' attorney, Gene Hale, Eighth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Brent Haltom and deputy prosecuting attorney Danny Rodgers. It was accepted in court by Eighth Judicial District Judge Phillip Purifoy.

As Williams stood before Purifoy to hear the charges read against him and agree to the plea, Rodgers said in anticipation of the guilty plea, charges had been filed against the defendant making him a habitual offender.

However, Williams was unsure what this meant and had to have it explained to him by Hale. This caused a delay until several other cases could be cleared up or have trial dates set for them.

At 11:15 a.m. though, Williams was again standing before Purifoy, this time armed with the knowledge of all three charges brought against him. Purifoy again reminded him he was being charged as a felon in possession of a firearm, with murder in the first degree and as a habitual offender.

Still, Williams entered a plea of guilty to all charges. When questioned by the judge about what happened on Aug. 5-7, 1995, Williams said he accidentally shot and killed his former wife.

Haltom, however, said because he had been convicted of more than one felony in Arkansas and another state, he should be charged as a habitual offender and sentenced accordingly.

Purifoy then sentenced him to 1 to 60 years in the Department of Corrections on the murder charge, and 12 years in the state penitentiary for the firearm charge.The sentences are to run concurrently. However, Williams will be eligible for parole in 15 years. The prosecuting attorney and defense were in agreement on this. The late Mrs. Williams' family was also notified of his eligibility for parole after serving at least one-fourth of his sentence. This, though, does not mean he will be granted parole, only that he will be eligible.

Williams was also given credit for time served in the Nevada County Jail since Aug. 7, 1995.

The case began with a call to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office by members of Linda's family, who reported her missing.

The report was made about 10 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7. Officers were told the last time she had been seen was after she left work at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Deputies searched for her until 1 or 2 a.m. Tuesday. The search was abandoned for the night, with efforts resuming at daybreak, Wednesday.

Her body was found around 9 a.m. by deputy Wally Hulan. It was located in a gravel pit about seven miles east of Prescott on Highway 24, and about a mile off Hwy. 24.

At the time, however, Williams was already being held in the Nevada County Jail on charges of felon in possession of a firearm, a .20-gauge shotgun.

Nevada County Sheriff Harold Vines said Williams apparently drove the body to the gravel pit in the victim's mother's car and dumped it. He said she had apparently been shot with a shotgun.

This led to the charge of first degree murder for Williams.

He originally appeared in court before Judge Joe Griffin, on Aug. 10, entering no plea. Griffin refused bond because of the nature of the crime and Williams' prior record as a felon.

Williams returned to court on Aug. 31 to enter a plea of not guilty for the murder. At this time, he was advised of his rights and appointed Hale as his defense attorney.

Since that time, though, both sides have worked on a plea agreement, which was reached Thursday.