Sandusky man sentenced to prison for child sex crimes

SANDUSKY — A Sandusky man was sentenced to prison Monday after he previously pleaded guilty to felony charges in his child sex crimes case. Brian D. Williams, 42, of the 2200 block of Forest Drive, was convicted on three counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, each a fifth-degree felony, and one amended count of attempted tampering with evidence, a fourth-degree felony. Williams pleaded guilty to the four charges on Jan. 5, in exchange for the dismissal of 14 additional counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, each a fifth-degree felony. Erie County Common Pleas Court Judge Roger Binette sentenced Williams to serve three years in prison. Williams is additionally classified as a Tier 1 sex offender, which means he must verify his home and work addresses every year for 15 years, according to court records. Under the terms of his sentencing, Williams received credit for more than five months served in jail and is subject to a mandatory term of five years post-release control, according to court records. Williams was originally indicted by an Erie County grand jury in August 2024 with the crimes having occurred on or about Dec. 19, 2023, when he knowingly sent "fully nude photographs and videos" to a child over Facebook Messenger, according to Sandusky Municipal Court records.