Defendant accepts global settlement, admits stabbing, child sexual abuse

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The defendant accepted a global plea agreement in district court before Judge Michael O’Keefe for the stabbing, kidnapping and sexual assault incidents during a July 2 hearing.

William Edwards, 26, was originally charged with first-degree burglary with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon — including a knife — armed kidnapping and armed robbery for assaulting and stabbing a man during an attempted robbery on Oct. 7, 2020, in the 400 block of Chaplin Street, SE.

Edwards was also charged with six counts of second-degree sexual abuse of children whose victims were under the age of 12 at the time of the offenses. The incidents occurred in January and February 2018 and April 17, 2018.

Court documents show Edwards is nine years older than the sexual assault victims, one of whom is partially blind.

During the hearing, Edwards’ attorneys, Kevin Mosley, Laura Rose and Errin Scialpi, notified Judge O’Keefe that Edwards would accept a plea deal that would require him to plead guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a child with aggravating circumstances and kidnapping, in exchange for the dismissal of all other charges.

Under the settlement, the parties agreed to a prison sentence of no more than 15 years.

Judge O’Keefe reminded Edwards of the rights he was giving up by pleading guilty, which Edwards admitted.

In relation to the kidnapping incident, the prosecution said they would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Edwards captured the victim at approximately 1 a.m. with the intent to rob him. They added that with the help of an accomplice, the victim was handcuffed and placed in a bathroom stall for approximately three hours.

The prosecution also argued that it would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Edwards engaged in sexual activity with two minors for the purpose of sexual gratification.

The maximum sentence for kidnapping is 30 years, while second-degree sexual exploitation of a child is punishable by a maximum sentence of 10 years.

The verdict is scheduled for October 25.

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