Lethbridge Courthouse. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Crown suggests 14-17 year sentence in Cory Ray Williams kidnapping case

Nov 29, 2021 | 11:36 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – We will likely know next month how long Cory Ray Williams will spend in jail following a carjacking incident two years ago.

The 42-year-old was found guilty earlier this year of kidnapping, assault with a weapon, flight from police, dangerous driving, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, robbery, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

READ MORE: Cory Ray Williams guilty of 2019 carjacking in Lethbridge, vehicle theft in Fort Macleod

In October 2019, Williams got into another man’s vehicle while the driver was still inside and held a machete to his throat.

Williams then forced the victim to withdraw cash from an ATM so he could buy drugs.

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The driver was then made to take Williams out to the Blood Reserve, later instructing him to turn off of Highway 509 onto a dirt road and telling him to get out of the vehicle and walk a short distance without looking back.

Williams tried to hit the man with the vehicle then left the area. When another group picked the man up from the side of the Highway, Williams returned and tried to chase the other vehicle down.

He then sped off towards Fort Macleod and was clocked by RCMP travelling approximately 200 km/hr.

After abandoning the initial vehicle, Williams entered a person’s home in Fort Macleod so he could steal another one from that house.

He was apprehended in Lethbridge the next day.

In Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench this Monday, we were expecting to hear the sentencing decision for Williams.

The Crown, Sheena Campbell, and Defense attorney Andre Ouellette, presented their suggestions for what they believed were fair periods of incarceration.

Campbell wanted Williams to receive a global sentence of 14-17 years, arguing that this was proficient to denounce and deter such offences, while adequately protecting public safety.

She believed that these were extremely serious crimes that greatly impact the victims to this day.

Williams has a lengthy criminal record with 81 prior convictions dating back to 1997.

Ouellette, however, argued that a term of seven to 10 years behind bars is appropriate.

It was shown in the Gladue report that was prepared for the courts that Williams had a difficult upbringing that lead to him turning to substance use and violence to cope.

This includes both of his parents being residential school survivors with generational trauma resulting in a childhood full of abuse, neglect, and substance use being normalized.

Williams has already spent approximately 24 months in custody, and given the increased levels of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ouellette stated that his client should get enhanced credit for that time.

Williams spoke briefly during Monday’s court proceedings, saying that he is sorry for what he did. He informed the court that he has completed an anger management course, is now trying to maintain a sober lifestyle, and is working towards getting what he referred to as an entrepreneur certificate.

Judge Maxwell said he was not prepared to make a sentencing decision today as he has not had an opportunity to review the similar cases that were presented by the crown.

A decision is expected on December 13, 2021.