St. Joseph County's Broken Criminal Justice System: The Story of Gabriel Williams
- Logan Foster
- Jul 19
- 3 min read
Title: St. Joseph County's Broken Criminal Justice System: The Story of Gabriel Williams Author: Logan Foster Date: 07/20/2025 A Ricocheted Bullet and a Justice System Under Fire
On an October night in 2014, a single bullet pierced the siding of a South Bend home, ricocheted, and lodged in the wall of a neighbor’s house. It came to rest just feet from where a child slept. Gabriel Williams, the man who fired the gun, claimed he was aiming at a raccoon. But for the residents of one West Side neighborhood, the event was a near-tragedy that underscored critical flaws in St. Joseph County’s judicial system.
The consequences for Williams were strikingly light. He was convicted of criminal recklessness and other charges but avoided significant incarceration. His sentence? Probation and 15 weekends in jail, self-scheduled during his first year on probation. Let's dive into it below:
Two Decades of Crime and Leniency
Over the past 25 years, Gabriel Williams has faced a cascade of criminal charges, spanning from minor infractions to serious felonies. A pattern of probation violations and suspended sentences has allowed him to roam the streets freely, even as his offenses and risk to public safety escalate. Below is a comprehensive timeline of his charges:
09/23/2000
35-47-2-1(a)/MA - Carrying a Handgun Without a License
08/21/2004
35-45-1-3(a)(1)/MB - Disorderly Conduct
11/18/2005
35-48-4-11(1)/MA - Possession of Marijuana
06/15/2006
35-42-2-1(a)/MB - Battery
07/28/2007
35-48-4-11(1)/MA - Possession of Marijuana
11/18/2008
35-48-4-11(1)/MA - Possession of Marijuana
11/28/2009
9-24-19-1/IFA - Driving While Suspended
01/05/2010
9-24-19-1/IFA - Driving While Suspended
10/12/2012
DWS PRIOR
Result: Released on $220 cash bond.
10/09/2014
35-42-2-2(a)/F5 - Criminal Recklessness (Shooting into a Building)
35-47-2-1/MA - Carrying a Handgun Without a License
35-48-4-11(a)(1)/MB - Possession of Marijuana
35-47-2-1/F5 - Carrying a Handgun Without a License (Repeat Offender)
Sentence: Five years suspended; three years probation; 15 self-scheduled weekends in jail.
04/23/19 - Williams' admission of Probation Violation: No meaningful changes to probation conditions.
03/12/2015
9-21-5-2(6)(A) - Speeding (70 MPH)
9-24-1-1 - No License When Required
Result: Case sent to collections for unpaid fines and fees.
02/26/2018
35-48-4-7(a)/MA - Possession of a Controlled Substance
9-24-19-2/MA - Driving While Suspended
Sentence: 365 days probation and substance abuse program enrollment. Probation violation reported in 2020.
09/06/2022
35-48-4-11(a)(1)/MB - Possession of Marijuana
9-24-18-1/MC - Operating Motor Vehicle Without a License
Result: Case dismissed despite prior violations.
08/31/2023
35-47-2-1.5(b)/F5 - Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun (Prior Felony Conviction)
35-43-1-2(a)/MB - Criminal Mischief
Sentence: Six years in the Indiana Department of Corrections; five years suspended to probation.
03/14/2024
35-48-4-11(a)(1)/MB - Possession of Marijuana
Result: Fines and fees remain outstanding ($414).
07/03/2025
35-48-4-1.1(a)(2)/F2 - Dealing in Methamphetamine
35-48-4-2(a)(2)/F2 - Dealing in Schedule I Controlled Substance
35-47-2-1.5(b)/MA - Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun
35-47-2-1.5(b)/F5 - Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun (Prior Felony Conviction)
Case pending; bond set at $50,000 cash or $500,000 surety.
A System Under Scrutiny
Williams’ criminal history paints a catastrophic picture of the St. Joseph County criminal justice system. A justice system that appears to prioritize leniency over accountability.
Numerous incidents of probation violations went unpunished, even as Williams' actions posed escalating public dangers. It seems prosecutors and judges repeatedly allowed Williams the opportunity to commit more crimes when he should have been serving time behind bars. For example, had Williams served his six-year Indiana Department of Corrections sentence in 2023, he would not have been on the street to reoffend in 2024 and 2025. When speaking with community members about this issue, a neighbor of Williams' (who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation) told Redress South Bend: “How many close calls will it take? Do we have to wait for Williams to seriously injure or kill someone before the St. Joseph County Justice System takes this seriously?”
We will be following Williams' most recent case and provide updates as appropriate.