February 7, 2008...10:22 am
One Hate Crime Charge Filed -Megan Williams Case
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Prosecutors say each defendant was indicted separately, because each allegedly committed different crimes in holding Megan Williams hostage in a Logan County trailer. Police found her last September.
Those charges range from kidnapping to malicious wounding and assault, but Karen Burton is the only one charged under West Virginia’s Hate Crimes Law. She is accused of using a racial slur while stabbing Williams. ….read more
Karen Burton was the only suspect charged with a hate crime. Was this a “political move” to silence those who wanted the entire case to be a hate crime? What do you think?
13 Comments
February 7, 2008 at 10:59 am
Hello, Phyllis.
Thanks so much for this update. I will post a link to your site.
We both are keeping up on little Megan. But a special “Thanks” to YOU for your continued dedication in looking out for Megan.
She deserves not to be forgotten.
February 8, 2008 at 8:38 am
I am so sorry that the six people who committed these crimes against Megan were not all charged with hate crimes. These people should never see the outside of prison walls. This young lady would have been killed in time, had she not been found. They should not benefit because of Megan’s luck. We can just hope that their crimes are well known within the prison population. They will get theirs!
Megan, good luck in life. Move on and be happy.
February 8, 2008 at 11:54 am
Ms. Williams’ tortures should carry equal punishment for all of the people involved. If any one of them is any less guilty, he or she would have put a stop to it, or called the police before it went that far. All 6 should be in prisoned for life.
Megan’s loving cousin
Vicki Caul
February 10, 2008 at 10:49 am
I’ve been busy, but wanted to comment on this personally. I’ve finally read all of the reports out of West Virginia and the latest story from Gary Harki from the Gazette spells it all out…
The indictments and plea deals paint a clearer picture of how the seven people were allegedly involved with Williams, and what they allegedly did to her…….
Megan Williams originally moved to the trailer with Bobby Brewster of her own volition, Abraham said.
“The investigation reached the conclusion that the people residing in the trailer and visiting the trailer were engaged in a lifestyle where they would consume alcohol or other substances and as a result become very violent with one another,” he said. “Megan Williams moved into this environment and stayed with Bobby.”
“Not all of them committed all the acts,” he said. “Various people did various things. … Now we see what each of the individuals did and what acts they committed.”
It was after Bobby Brewster and Karen Burton allegedly stabbed and cut Williams that those involved became concerned that she would tell police and would not allow her to leave, Abraham said.
She was held either in a bedroom or under the kitchen sink, Abraham said. Doors would be blocked and different people would take turns guarding her.
“There would be times when she would be released from the room,” the prosecutor said. “At other times she had the freedom to move about the house and the property.”
Each of those involved with abusing Williams had their own motives, Abraham said.
Bobby and Frankie Brewster and Danny Combs sexually assaulted Williams for their own pleasure, he said.
Karen Burton sometimes assaulted Williams because she believed she stole her food stamp card, Abraham said. Her motive for the stabbing, he said, was allegedly Williams’ race.
Bobby Brewster was indicted on charges of kidnapping, malicious assault, second-degree sexual assault, assault during the commission of a felony and conspiracy.
Bobby Brewster stabbed Williams in the leg two or three times. Also, “by threat of force, coercion or compulsion he required her to perform oral sex [on] his mother, Frankie Brewster,” Abraham said. “[Frankie Brewster] acted in concert with Bobby. She was a willing participant.”
His mother, Frankie Brewster, was indicted on charges of kidnapping, first-degree sexual assault and conspiracy. It was her trailer where police found Williams.
Karen Burton was indicted on charges of kidnapping and malicious wounding. She was the only one to be charged under West Virginia’s hate crimes law, for allegedly stabbing Williams in the ankle while saying, “This is what we do to niggers around here,” according to the prosecutor. “That is an expression of her motivation,” Abraham said.
Linnie Burton Jr., Karen Burton’s son, was indicted on one count of misdemeanor battery. He was not among the original six people arrested in the case.
There were other instances where the racial epithet was used, but in all of those cases, the people had other reasons to commit the crimes against Williams, Abraham said.
Danny Combs was charged with kidnapping, first-degree sexual assault and conspiracy. Danny Combs allegedly held a knife at Williams’ throat and demanded she perform oral sex on him.
George Messer and Alisha Burton both pleaded guilty Friday to one count of kidnapping and one count of assault during the commission of a felony. Each was sentenced to 10 years on the kidnapping charge and 2 to 10 years for the assault charge. Those sentences will run at the same time.
During the course of the investigation, it became clear that Messer and Alisha Burton were not involved in any of the alleged sex acts against Williams, Abraham said.
Messer admitted to slapping and punching Williams during the time she was confined to certain areas of the Brewster mobile home and in an effort to intimidate her. He said he slapped her five times, punched her once with a closed fist and poured hot wax on her, the prosecutor said.
Alisha Burton admitted to slapping Williams on several occasions, punching her once, striking her with a sandal so hard that it broke and hitting her across the buttocks with a stick, Abraham said.
Their plea deals were made after consulting with Megan Williams and her family, the prosecutor said. Both Messer and Alisha Burton, Karen Burton’s daughter, have agreed to testify against the remaining five defendants.
All of the defendants except Linnie Burton Jr. were charged with kidnapping because each was involved in detaining Williams at different times at the trailer from about Aug. 1 to Sept. 8, Abraham said. Kidnapping carries a potential sentence of life in prison.
(In a related story)
Karen Burton was “a little surprised” by the hate crime charge, but was relieved not to be charged with sexual assault because “she didn’t want her children to think anything like that about her,” said her attorney, Betty Gregory.
While noting that Burton has two biracial grandchildren in North Carolina whom “she dearly loves,” Gregory said part of Burton’s defense will be that she “has a significant history of child abuse from her own childhood.”
Source – The Intelligencer 2/7/08
February 10, 2008 at 11:11 am
This is my take:
Regardless of the fact that Megan had a relationship with Bobby Brewster; was living in the trailer or not, the events and crimes comitted against her were “hate.” The fact that Alisha Burton (Karen’s own flesh and blood) took a plea bargain TO TESTIFY AGAINST HER shows how screwed up these families are.
The comment that irks me the most is the one where Karen Burton was relieved that she didn’t get a sexual charge filed against her because she didn’t want her children to think anything like that about her, yet she has two BI-RACIAL grandchildren that she “loves dearly” and gets a hate crime charge because she used the N-word while stabbing Megan in the leg. Give me a flippin break!
The possible defense that Karen Burton had a childhood of abuse is lame. These people are career criminals, alcoholics and drug addicts who hated on eachother as much as they hated on Megan Williams.
The marches and rallies held for Megan were what brought the ONE hate crime charge, that’s evident, but is it truly justice? Justice is that these sick basturds rot in prison for the remainder of their lives.
Lastly, is it just me, but, what about the so called “friend” who took Megan to the trailer in the first place? Why haven’t we heard anything more about her? Also, in all of these charges, why was there never a charge field for attempted murder?
February 10, 2008 at 11:38 am
Megan on Montel Williams Show 2/7/08
I missed the taping of Megan on Montel Williams. I set the timer on my VCR, but unfortunately, I had the wrong channel selected. I found a short video excerpt of the taping done by ABC news, for anyone else who missed it.
February 13, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I am a resident of Logan County, West Virginia and I can honestly say that I have never been more ashamed to say that. My heart goes out to Megan Williams and my thoughts and prayers will be with you.
February 20, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Justice? There is non in America! This country has gone to the dogs. From experience, I can say that most most ’systems” are corrupt, especially the criminal justice system…can you say corruption!
February 27, 2008 at 6:03 pm
sentencing for karen burton will be on march 3, 2008 at 9 :30 am in logan county for the violation of megan williams civil rights. PLEASE BE THERE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPOPRT AT THI HISTORY MAKING SENTENCING.
JOHN KEMET SHABAZZ
BLACK UNITY COALITION
February 28, 2008 at 9:15 am
John, thanks for your post. I read and posted the article this morning about the sentencing and how the Williams’ family is outraged. I believe the public is in complete agreement with the sentencing. Frankie Brewster and her son deserve nothing less than LIFE IN PRISON! All of them actually!
March 4, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I couldnt believe what this poor girl went through. As a grow women im not sure i could have lived through it. I pray those people who did this never see daylight again. I had to join face book so i could post this but its worth it.
March 4, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I had never heard of Megans story until I heard about it on montel williams today. I couldn’t speak after I heard about her ordeal. There is always going to be prejudice in America. But I did not beleive that we still had people who had the courage to do these horrific events. My heart goes out to Megan. I cried my eyes out when I listen to her tell her story. The people who did this to her dont deserve to see the light of day. I just dont understand how they were on the streets in the first place??? That to me is ridiculous!! But God is watching! The bible says vengence is mine! To Megan, you are forever in my prayers and my heart. You are a survivor.
March 14, 2008 at 6:42 am
The sentencing in this case was handed down yesterday March 13, 2008.
According to Department of Corrections officials, Burton must spend at least six years and six months in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Brewster must serve at least 10 years before being considered for parole.
One has to ask, “What’s wrong with our judicial system?”
Read one of many stories here
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