A 31-year-old Seward resident was arrested on Thursday on 20 charges of physical and sexual assault after an investigation that began on Dec. 9, Alaska State Troopers said Friday.
According to a dispatch from the troopers, Keshawn Williams allegedly physically and sexually assaulted another adult “on multiple occasions over several years.”
Williams is charged with six counts of first-degree sexual assault, one count of attempted first-degree sexual assault, one count of kidnapping, one count of first-degree stalking, five counts of fourth-degree physical assault, three counts of fourth-degree fear assault, two counts of reckless endangerment and one count of cruelty to animals, the dispatch says.
An affidavit by Trooper Joshua Yavorsky says that on Dec. 9 troopers were notified that Williams had been repeatedly calling and threatening a woman who resides in Seward. She told troopers that she had reconnected with Williams in November — having previously spent time with him between 2019 and 2021.
The threatening messages began, the affidavit says, when the woman confronted Williams about his past behavior. She told troopers that in an hourlong phone conversation Williams had threatened to assault her, to pay someone to kill her, and to kill her family members. She reported that Williams “used to use cocaine heavily, had guns in his residence, and was a gang member.”
The woman told troopers about “prior incidents of abusive and threatening behavior,” the affidavit says. She provided “photos and other documentation” that showed physical injuries that she said were caused by Williams, according to the affidavit.
All but one of the charges describe alleged crimes committed by Williams between 2019 and 2021, the outlier is the first-degree stalking charge, which describes tracking the woman down “on multiple occasions” and forcing her into conversations with him.
According to log notes from an arraignment on Friday, bail was set at a $250,000 performance bond and a $250,000 appearance bond. The dispatch says Williams was taken to Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22 at the Seward Courthouse.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
