Midland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting Prison Guard, Escape and Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm

In Midland today, 38-year-old Iry James Williams of Midland was sentenced to a total of 260 months in federal prison for assaulting an Ector County Correctional Center guard, escape from a half-way house, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., U.S. Marshal David Sligh and Midland Police Chief Price Robinson.

United States District Judge Robert Junell sentenced Williams to consecutive terms of 100 months incarceration for assaulting a public servant; 100 months incarceration for escape; and, 60 months incarceration for felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Junell also ordered that Williams be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his 260-month federal prison term.

According to court records, on February 28, 2016, Williams signed himself out on a social pass from a residential re-entry center in Midland where he was serving the remainder of a 90-month federal prison term for felon in possession of a firearm. Williams did not return to the center as required. According to the Midland Police Department, Williams was the prime suspect in Midland convenience store robbery that evening. Authorities recovered Williams’ wallet and a .380 pistol inside his vehicle outside the convenience store.

On March 6, 2016. MPD officers and deputy U.S. Marshals arrested Williams. He has remained in custody since.

On July 11, 2016, a federal jury convicted him of felon in possession of the .380 pistol. That same day, Williams pleaded guilty to the escape charge. On July 27, 2016, while incarcerated awaiting sentencing on the escape and firearm charges, Williams assaulted an Ector County Corrections Center guard causing bodily injury. Williams pleaded guilty to the assault charge on March 15, 2017.

The U.S. Marshals Service and the Midland Police Department conducted this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Brandi Young prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.