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Woman involved in alleged I-80 kidnapping will represent herself
By Justin Wier
YOUNGSTOWN
Benita Williams has gone through four lawyers, but her latest will be her last.
“I’m done with attorneys,” Williams said Thursday in court. “I will handle this myself. I’m just done.”
She made her feelings known to her most recent defense attorney, Gerald Ingram.
“She just asked when I walked into the courtroom to please get off her case as quickly as possible,” Ingram told the court.
Judge Lou A. D’Apolito granted Williams’ wish, allowing her to waive her right to an attorney and represent herself.
Williams, 47, of Ravenna faces charges of kidnapping, abduction, discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle related to a January incident, in which a man was held at gunpoint in a vehicle.
The man told police he intentionally crashed the car on Interstate 80 to get the attention of police. He said Williams held him against his will, and investigators determined the gun had been fired recently, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said at the time.
Thursday’s hearing was scheduled to discuss Williams’ competency, but Ingram withdrew that motion after a report by the Forensic Center determined she is competent to stand trial.
The decision to question her competency upset Williams, who claimed someone with her educational background and career cannot be incompetent.
She told the court she has a bachelor’s degree and works as a computer architect and engineer.
“You don’t earn six figures a year if you have mental illness,” Williams said. Williams has been in the Mahoning County jail with a $100,000 bond since January.
Judge D’Apolito voiced reservations about Williams’ decision to represent herself and went over her charges and possible punishments to make sure she understood the consequences.
If convicted on all charges, she could face more than 20 years in prison and $45,000 in fines.
“That is a risk and gamble I’m willing to take,” Williams said.