Williams pleads guilty to simple assault, false imprisonment

Williamsport, Pa. — A man pled guilty to simple assault and false imprisonment Monday morning in Lycoming County.

Anthony Garnett Williams, 26, of Williamsport signed an open plea on Monday morning. The deal means Williams acknowledges that an assault took place, but that he has not made a deal with the prosecution for sentencing. Williams was originally charged with strangulation, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, and simple assault.

Williams signed an open plea to both second-degree misdemeanor charges moments before Judge Eric Linhardt asked him to explain the incident. Williams initially refused when asked to recall what happened in July of last year.

Williams was accused of holding the victim inside an apartment in the 20 block of W. Fourth Street in Williamsport. He allegedly strangled and beat the woman inside the home while another man blocked the only exit.

“I didn’t strangle nobody,” Williams said. “I struck her. I didn’t strike her multiple times.”

Williams eventually admitted to assaulting the victim and keeping her inside the home. Linhardt will sentence Williams at a later date.

Bail for Williams will remain $50,000 unsecured, according to a ruling by Linhardt Monday.

Docket sheet