Charles Williams was arrested on charges of lewd and lascivious exhibition and conduct on a child, promoting sexual performance by a child, and tampering.
A youth basketball coach, Charles Williams, 27, was born in 1998 in the United States.
Highlights
- Charles Williams met a 14-year-old boy at the Gibson Park Community Center in Overtown a few months ago.
- He was arrested at a McDonald’s on Northwest 62nd Street. He is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
- Charles Williams lived with his stepfather, who has also acknowledged the recent incident.
As per the reports, he has a criminal record that includes touching a 6-year-old in 2021.
Charles Is Being Held At The Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center
Charles Akim Williams was arrested at a McDonald’s on Northwest 62nd Street for allegedly exchanging a series of inappropriate text messages and adult videos with a 10-year-old boy.
Miami City police said that the boy and Charles met in person for the first time a few months ago at the Gibson Park Community Center in Overtown.
As per the source, the boy met Williams through a 14-year-old friend at another community center.
The conversations through text, PlayStation 5, and FaceTime continued until the boy’s family found out and reported it to police officials. Miami police officer Michael Vega said,
“We know that this is something that is inappropriate, something incorrect and something illegal for an adult to be saying to a child,”
Michael Vega
Williams requested the boy to send him pictures of his genitalia in exchange for an electric scooter. The boy complied, sending him two photos.
Police officials also said that Williams allegedly sent the victim photos of people having sex and then instructed the boy on how to delete the messages from his phone.
After the investigation, it was found that Williams was a volunteer basketball coach. ICAC detectives located Williams and took him into custody after the boy identified him through a photograph.
At his arrest, Williams was on probation for a fraud case out of Palm Beach County.
Charles appeared in bond court on Wednesday morning, February 5, 2025. Miami-Dae Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer asked,
“What’s the victim? Ten-year-old child?”
Mindy S. Glazer
The prosecutor said, “Yes,” and Judge Glazer asked,
“And he’s 26?”
Mindy S. Glazer
Police added that this incident came to light when the boy’s older brother found inappropriate messages between his younger brother and Williams after going through the boy’s phone. Officer Vega said,
“The brother sees some texts from the coach to his little brother, and inside those text messages, he sees that his brother sends the coach nude pictures of his genitals,”
Michael Vega
A deeper investigation of the case revealed a series of disturbing messages. One reads, “Lemme see da chicken,” referring to the boy’s genitalia.
Police further said Charles sent the boy a video of two people having a physical relationship and asked, “Do you think you can do that?” Vega added,
“Now, the coach also, through FaceTime, pulled down his pants and exposed himself to the 10-year-old,”
Micahael Vega
Judge Glazer ordered Williams to stay away from the Belafonte TACOLCY Center.
Officials believed there were more victims and urged anyone who had had inappropriate interactions with Willaims to come forward. Vega said,
“Now, we suspect that there might be other victims out there. Anybody that has had contact with him, please come and tell the City of Miami Police Department of any inappropriate interactions they’ve had with this gentleman,”
Michael Vega
Currently, Charles Williams is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in West Miami-Dade and is facing charges including lewd and lascivious conduct on a child.
According to police officials, Charles will appear before a division judge on Thursday, February 6, 2025, because he is currently on probation for a felony in Palm Beach County.
Investigators initially stated that the boy’s family believed Williams was a volunteer basketball coach at the Belafonte TACOLCY Center in Liberty City.
In addition, A Local 10 News crew went to Williams’ home after the court hearing, where his stepfather acknowledged the recent incident and expressed his shock and disgust over the allegations. His stepfather said,
“Yes, he is my stepson,” “I am so upset. I am so hurt, but there is nothing that I can convey. I am disgusted.”
Williams’ Stepfather
Additional Information
- Shownda J. Pagan, CEO of the Belafonte-TACOLCY Center, confirmed that Williams was not an employee of the Liberty City Youth Center.
- Judge Glazer ordered Williams to stay away from the victim and any child under the age of 18.