Williams Convicted of 1st Degree Murder
An Ashland man is found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Columbia man during a home invasion. A Pettis County jury finds Damon Williams guilty in the June 2008 murder of 22-year-old Nathaniel Bentley. Williams faces life in prison without parole and will be sentenced December 7TH. A loud confrontation erupted after the verdict was announced in the courtroom between Bentley’s family and Williams and his family. When it was over, Williams’ mother, Sable Williams, and a cousin of Bentley’s were found in contempt of court and sentenced to two days in jail. Two other men await trial and two others have pleaded guilty in Bentley’s death. The jury could have returned a 2nd degree murder conviction but chose 1st degree murder, 1st degree robbery and armed criminal action.