Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – A California man is being held in the Craighead County Detention Center on a $500,000 cash-only bond after police said he slammed his wife’s head into the ground and fired a handgun while she pushed it away from her.

On Oct. 4, Jonesboro police officers responded to an apartment complex on South Caraway Road following a report of shots fired.

According to an affidavit, officers met with the victim, who said her husband, 48-year-old Sylvester Donell Williams, of Long Beach, CA, had assaulted her with a handgun. The victim said she came home from work to find Williams drunk, then he accused her of cheating.

Police said the assault began in the couple’s bedroom, when Williams pressed a loaded handgun to the victim’s head and threatened to kill her. He then attacked her, throwing her against the wall and striking her head with the gun, the affidavit said.

The affidavit said as the victim tried to get dressed to leave, Williams pushed her into the living room, throwing her into another wall and causing her to fall to the floor. Williams then proceeded to slam the victim’s head against the ground and put the handgun to her head for a second time. However, the victim pushed the gun away as Williams pulled the trigger, firing one shot.

The affidavit said the couple’s nephew walked up to the apartment, noticing the door was open and could hear what was going on. He entered the apartment and saw Williams on top of the victim.

The affidavit said the nephew then saw the handgun and picked it up, pointing it at Williams and ordering him to get off the victim. Williams complied and left the apartment, but he later returned, now with a second firearm. He pointed it at both the victim and nephew, and subsequently left.

The victim told police that she believed Williams was going to kill her. The nephew added that Williams threatened to put him on a “hit list,” according to the affidavit. It was also noted that the victim’s grandchild was in the living room when the attack occurred.

Officers found Williams hiding outside another apartment building. The affidavit said an officer found a small handgun in a flowerpot near where Williams was hiding, confirmed to be the victim’s. Williams was arrested shortly after. The same officer also found approximately one gram of cocaine in a baggie where Williams had been placed in front of the patrol unit.

On Oct. 6, Williams appeared before District Judge David Boling, who found probable cause to charge him with the following:

  • Class Y Felony: Simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms
  • Class C Felony: Criminal attempt
  • Class D Felony: Two counts of aggravated assault on a family or household member
  • Class D Felony: Two counts of tampering with physical evidence
  • Class D Felony: Two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening (threatens physical injury or property damage)
  • Class D Felony: Possession of a firearm by certain person (prior felony)
  • Class D Felony: Possession of meth or cocaine less than two grams

Police noted Williams has prior felony convictions in California. Boling said this, and this being the second Class Y felony he has had in Arkansas in three years with him being out of prison, were factors in deciding the bond, noting him to be a high risk to the public.

In addition to the bond, Williams was ordered upon release to not have contact with the victims in the case, wear a GPS ankle monitor, and to not consume any alcohol or illegal drugs.

Williams is scheduled to be back in court on Nov. 25.