A man accused of stabbing another person and pushing them into a river in Iowa City has pleaded guilty to a lesser offense.
Yossarian Williams, 48, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to inflict serious injury, an aggravated misdemeanor on Nov. 1. He was initially charged with two felony counts, willful injury causing serious injury and going armed with intent, that could have landed him in prison for up to 15 years.
Criminal complaints list Williams’ address as “transient.”
Williams entered an “Alford plea,” which allows him to avoid admitting guilt or innocence. In his plea, Williams “recognizes” that the evidence gathered by prosecutors “would allow a reasonable jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt” that he is guilty of assault with intent to inflict serious injury.
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Williams allegedly told stabbing victim he was ‘going to die’
Williams, in March, was accused of stabbing an individual in the chest underneath the Benton Street Bridge near the intersection of Benton Street and Riverside Drive. Williams allegedly shoved the person into the Iowa River, according to criminal complaints. He also allegedly told the individual he was “going to die.”
The individual made their way to a nearby McDonald’s, where officers discovered the person “bleeding profusely.” The individual was transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for emergency surgery, according to court documents.
Williams allegedly told officers that he and the individual were involved in a physical altercation underneath the bridge.
The court accepted Williams’ plea and sentenced him to an indeterminate term no longer than two years, with credit for the time he has already served since his March 2024 arrest. According to court records, Williams has served nearly eight months in the Johnson County Jail.
He is also eligible for parole before the end of his sentence.
Williams was also ordered to pay an $855 fine and court costs related to the case.
A no-contact order between Williams and the individual was issued following his arrest and will remain in effect through Nov. 1, 2029.
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached atrhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
