COVINGTON — District Attorney J. Collin Sims announces that on September 23, 2026, a St. Tammany Parish jury found Brandon Justin Lee Williams, 38, of New Orleans, guilty on all counts following a trial before the Honorable Judge Tara Farris Zeller.
Williams was convicted of:
- Second Degree Rape
- Domestic Abuse Battery Involving Serious Bodily Injury
- Domestic Abuse Battery Involving Child Endangerment
- Cruelty to Juveniles
The conviction stems from an October 2024 investigation by the Slidell Police Department into multiple reported incidents of domestic abuse at a residence on Highlands Drive in Slidell. During that investigation, law enforcement obtained statements from the adult victim, conducted forensic interviews with her two minor children, and reviewed text messages confirming severe physical abuse and child endangerment. The investigation further revealed that following incidents of physical violence, Williams repeatedly forced the victim into sexual acts under extreme emotional distress and physical intimidation.
During opening statements at trial, Assistant District Attorney Zachary Popovich, who prosecuted the case alongside ADA Taylor Nicholson, detailed the pattern of coercive control. “There is clear evidence of this woman being trapped in a cycle of abuse,” Popovich stated. “When she tried to stand up or defend herself, the abuse got worse. He made sure she knew ‘no’ was not an option.”…