Edward James Williams: Intensive supervision order for false details and attempting to evade arrest

A Wagin man who spent six months in prison for evading arrest and lying to police has been released from prison on an intensive supervision order. Edward James Williams, 40, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday via video link from Albany Regional Prison charged with stealing, providing false details to police, obstructing public officers, and escaping from lawful custody. Police prosecutor Warrick Walker told the court how Williams has been remanded in custody since December after providing false details to police and trying to evade arrest. On December 25, Williams was stopped by police in Katanning in relation to a domestic violence investigation and gave a false name before running into nearby bush where he was pursued and arrested. A month earlier, in Yakamia on November 20, Williams stole a watch from a man known to him and fled. Williams pleaded guilty to the Katanning charges on January 25 but denied stealing the watch until his May 29 appearance when he changed his plea to guilty without explanation. Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer Georgia Herford said she was seeking a community-based order for her client, which the prosecution did not oppose. Ms Herford said Williams had spent “sufficient time” in custody and deserved the opportunity to rehabilitate himself in the community. Williams had been remanded in custody since his arrest in December 2023 until his release on Thursday. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said a conditional suspended imprisonment order would be “unjust” given the time Williams had spent remanded in custody. The court sentenced Williams to a 12-month intensive supervision order with program and supervision requirements. No compensation order was made for the wristwatch.