Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
- James Wellah Williams claims he was unaware his two friends planned to murder a man.
- During a parole hearing, family members argued that Williams is just as guilty as the shooters involved.
- Williams is seeking parole, citing personal growth and no prison violations.
SALT LAKE CITY — James Wellah Williams claims he didn't know the two men he was with were planning on killing 18-year-old Jose Javier "Jay Jay" Fernandez.
Williams told the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole that he took three young children out of the house that day — just before Fernandez was shot multiple times — to take them to the park to play basketball.
But Roselia Fernandez says based on what her family knows, everything was planned and the men "knew exactly what they were going to do."
"If you ask me, you are as guilty or even more guilty than they are, because if it wasn't for Mr. Williams, maybe (Jose) would have a second chance," she told the board on Tuesday. "I'm pretty sure you knew what you were doing."
On April 7, 2016, Fernandez was shot and killed in a bedroom at 211 N. Cornell Street (1550 West). William Armstrong P-Graham, of Salt Lake City; Gaethan "Synn" Laguerre, of Sandy; and Williams were each charged with murder.
Prior to the shooting, Williams went into the house and invited the three youngest siblings to go with him to the park, according to charging documents. As the children were being led away from the house, a neighbor recorded on his cellphone two men wearing bandanas over their faces and walking into the residence. A short time later, gunshots were heard.
P-Graham, who police say orchestrated the shooting and provided the guns, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. Laguerre pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated burglary and was sentenced to consecutive sentences of five years to life in prison.
Williams also pleaded guilty to manslaughter and burglary and was sentenced to consecutive terms of two to 20 years in prison for the manslaughter charge and one to 15 years for burglary.
Williams said P-Graham and Fernandez "had a beef" over a woman, according to the charges. He claimed his only job was getting the kids out of the house. But Williams gave contradicting statements, and investigators found a text message from Williams to P-Graham stating that he knew how to find Fernandez, court documents state.
During his parole hearing on Tuesday, however, Williams, now 29, says he was unaware of the other two men's intentions and "froze" after he heard the shots. He says he takes responsibility for not "being more aware of my surroundings."
"I just want apologize again for my actions. I'm not proud of them. I had no intention of something like this happening. I should have been more aware and more alert," he said in a recording of the hearing.
Roselia Fernandez, however, doesn't believe Williams had not idea what was going to happen. And even if he didn't, "that doesn't make him any less guilty than the ones that actually did shot the guns."
She says it was Williams who told the others where to find Jay Jay Fernandez. The "beef" itself was over "petty stuff," and nine years in prison isn't long enough.
"There is no sentence long enough that it's going to make us be at comfort or give us peace, because we are missing a loved one," she told the board.
Fernandez also says she does not forgive Williams.
"My family don't hate you. We don't hold that type of feeling against human beings. But we're never going to be able to say, 'I forgive you,' because I will be lying. Because I don't. I don't forgive you. You took a part of my life. You took a part of my heart. He was like a child to me. ... No matter how many mistakes he made, he was young. He did not get the chance that you're getting right now. You get to see your mom. You get to talk to your mom," she said.
Williams told the board that he has learned from his actions and his mistakes and is a different person today. He added that he has been taking classes while incarcerated to "fix the issues" and do things as "a normal citizen should do."
"I wasn't living as a productive citizen, but I have learned over the years in prison how to do that," he said.
That board noted that he has not had any disciplinary violations while in prison. The full five-member board will now vote whether to grant parole or schedule another hearing.
