What is it with this guy? He’s been a lawyer for 30 years, a judge for five, and he’s continually being investigated for alleged lawbreaking.
Last year, Hardy Circuit Judge C. Carter Williams was charged with violating the rules of judicial conduct for verbally accosting a Moorefield police officer who pulled him over for using his cell phone while driving.
According to the filing, “Judge Williams asked in an angry tone why he had been stopped. Officer Johnson explained it was because respondent had a cell phone in his hand. Judge Williams stated that he lost his cell phone and had just pulled it up from under the seat when he was stopped.”
Williams was abusive to the officer who pulled him over and quite likely lied to him.
That was just one offense. Now the judge is being investigated for shoplifting from the Moorefield Walmart, more than once.
According to the Formal Statement of Charges filed by the state Judicial Investigation Commission, the not-so-honorable judge walked out of the store last August without paying for the 10 or more items in his cart.
It was an “accident,” of course. (Tell that to a judge and see what he says.)
Williams went through the self-checkout and just forgot to pay. It was at least the second time he’s made this “mistake.”
Video surveillance shows the judge scanning items.
“Williams is then observed pushing his shopping cart out of the store without making any attempts to pay for the items,” the filing of charges states. “It was determined that the best course of action would be to contact Williams and direct him to pay for the merchandise.
“It should also be noted that approximately one year ago, a similar incident occurred with Williams at the Moorefield Walmart where he and his wife had pushed out a substantial amount of merchandise without paying. It was determined that neither party realized that the other had not paid for the items.”
Hmm. How is this man fit to be a judge?
