Verdict reached in James Weems sex abuse trial
VERDICT. THE JURY STAYED LATE TONIGHT TO CONVICT JAMES WILLIAMS, JUNIOR, ON ALL SIX COUNTS, INCLUDING SECOND DEGREE RAPE. PROSECUTORS SAY HE WAS THE VAN DRIVER FOR LITTLE KIDS CASTLE DAYCARE IN OWINGS MILLS WHEN THE ABUSE OCCURRED. TONIGHT WE SPOKE WITH A PARENT WHOSE CHILD ATTENDED THAT DAYCARE, AS WELL AS FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I’M HAPPY. I’M I I’M HAPPY FOR THESE KIDS. THAT’S GETTING JUSTICE. I’M. I’M JUST I’M JUST THANKING GOD BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE WENT ANOTHER WAY. WE HAVE. WE GOT JUSTICE. JUSTICE FOR ALL THE BABIES. THE ONES THAT WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT. THE ONES THAT WE DO KNOW ABOUT EVERYBODY. MUCH OF THE TESTIMONY IN THIS CASE CENTERED AROUND THE ALLEGATIONS OF A 12 YEAR OLD VICTIM. TONIGHT, PROSECUTORS SAY THEY’RE RELIEVED JUSTICE IS BEING SERVED. I THINK IT’S BITTERSWEET BECAUSE WHAT THE LITTLE GIRL HAD TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO GET TO THIS POINT. WILLIAMS IS BACK IN CUSTODY TONIGHT WHILE HE AWAITS SENTENCING. THAT’S BEEN SET FOR JANUARY 8TH. WE’RE TOLD HE FACES TWO LIFE
Jury reaches verdict in James Weems sex abuse trial
Updated: 11:09 PM EDT Nov 1, 2024
The Baltimore County jury in the sex abuse trial of James Weems Jr. reached a guilty verdict Friday on all six counts.Jurors had six charges to consider, all involving sexual abuse of a minor, second-degree rape and displaying obscene matter to a minor. Weems was arrested on the charges in July 2022.A preliminary sentencing date has been set for Jan. 8, during which time, Weems faces two life sentences.The Marine veteran and retired Baltimore City police officer drove a van for his wife’s daycare center in Owings Mills, Lil Kidz Castle Daycare Center. The abuse allegedly took place on the center’s playground and inside the transport van, investigators said.During closing arguments on Friday, prosecutors claimed Weems took small, slow, progressive steps to get a 10-year-old girl in his web by giving her favorable treatment and snacks and showing her pornography on his cellphone.The Baltimore County assistant state’s attorney told the jury: “The reality is the person who will hurt your child, it is somebody they know, it is somebody they like or admire … the person who drives your children from daycare to school.”During the trial, Weems admitted to a porn addiction, watching it while in the daycare’s van to pick up children from school. He said he would lean his body and turn the phone so no one could see it.The prosecutor told the jury: “Was it risky? Yes, it was risky. But was there opportunity? There was. One would think he wouldn’t be looking at porn on a van with schoolchildren on it.”Weems’ defense attorney argued that while Weems was addicted to porn, he did not intentionally show any pornographic material to the girl, who is now 12, or sexually abuse her. The defense also said: “There is a possibility (the girl inadvertently) accessed porn on his device.” The defense said: “How does an innocent man come to court and try to prove a negative, that something didn’t happen? He didn’t intentionally give access to the (web) page with pornography on it. He denied all of the sexual allegations. Why wouldn’t James be worthy of belief?”In their final argument, prosecutors claimed Weems was grooming the child, saying: “These types of crimes thrive in secrecy and shame.”Weems’ ex-wife, Shanteari Weems, the now-12-year-old alleged victim, relatives and an FBI special agent all testified in the trial over the past week. Shanteari Weems confronted her husband about the allegations and shot him in July 2022 in a Washington, D.C., hotel. She’s currently serving a four-year prison sentence for the shooting.
The Baltimore County jury in the sex abuse trial of James Weems Jr. reached a guilty verdict Friday on all six counts.
Jurors had six charges to consider, all involving sexual abuse of a minor, second-degree rape and displaying obscene matter to a minor. Weems was arrested on the charges in July 2022.
A preliminary sentencing date has been set for Jan. 8, during which time, Weems faces two life sentences.
The Marine veteran and retired Baltimore City police officer drove a van for his wife’s daycare center in Owings Mills, Lil Kidz Castle Daycare Center. The abuse allegedly took place on the center’s playground and inside the transport van, investigators said.
During closing arguments on Friday, prosecutors claimed Weems took small, slow, progressive steps to get a 10-year-old girl in his web by giving her favorable treatment and snacks and showing her pornography on his cellphone.
The Baltimore County assistant state’s attorney told the jury: “The reality is the person who will hurt your child, it is somebody they know, it is somebody they like or admire … the person who drives your children from daycare to school.”
During the trial, Weems admitted to a porn addiction, watching it while in the daycare’s van to pick up children from school. He said he would lean his body and turn the phone so no one could see it.
The prosecutor told the jury: “Was it risky? Yes, it was risky. But was there opportunity? There was. One would think he wouldn’t be looking at porn on a van with schoolchildren on it.”
Weems’ defense attorney argued that while Weems was addicted to porn, he did not intentionally show any pornographic material to the girl, who is now 12, or sexually abuse her. The defense also said: “There is a possibility (the girl inadvertently) accessed porn on his device.”
The defense said: “How does an innocent man come to court and try to prove a negative, that something didn’t happen? He didn’t intentionally give access to the (web) page with pornography on it. He denied all of the sexual allegations. Why wouldn’t James be worthy of belief?”
In their final argument, prosecutors claimed Weems was grooming the child, saying: “These types of crimes thrive in secrecy and shame.”
Weems’ ex-wife, Shanteari Weems, the now-12-year-old alleged victim, relatives and an FBI special agent all testified in the trial over the past week. Shanteari Weems confronted her husband about the allegations and shot him in July 2022 in a Washington, D.C., hotel. She’s currently serving a four-year prison sentence for the shooting.
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