Man Released From Jail Over Coronavirus Concerns Remanded Again For Homicide

A former inmate of a Florida jail, who was released amid the government’s rising concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, ended up behind the bars again under murder charges.

Joseph Williams, 26, was first booked on March 13 into Hillsborough County jail for a third-degree felony drug charge. He, along with over 100 other inmates, was released on March 19 in an effort to halt the spread of COVID-19 in the cells and detention facilities considering their low-level and non-violent offenses.

"Judges, prosecutors, and Sheriffs around the country are facing difficult decisions during this health crisis with respect to balancing public health and public safety," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement at the time. "Sheriffs in Florida and throughout our country have released non-violent, low-level offenders to protect our deputies and the jail population from an outbreak."

His recent arrest was made on Tuesday (April 14) in connection to a March 20 homicide that took place in Tampa. Deputies responded to multiple 911 calls about gunshots were fired near 81st Street South and Ash Avenue. A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Williams was facing a second-degree murder charge, on top of resisting an officer with violence, felony possession of a firearm, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia charges.

"There is no question Joseph Williams took advantage of this health emergency to commit crimes while he was out of jail awaiting resolution of a low-level, non-violent offense," WFLA reported Sheriff Chad Chronister as saying.

"Every murder, every violent crime, especially those involving a gun, is a sickening example of the worst in our community, especially at a time when our community is working relentlessly to fight against the spread of this deadly COVID-19," he said, while calling for the state attorney to give him the maximum punishment.

Williams reportedly has an arrest history involving 35 charges. He appeared Tuesday afternoon in video court for his new charges and is now being held in jail with a combined bond of over $250,000.