A former Florida sheriff's deputy entered a last-minute plea deal after he was arrested in 2022 for setting his home on fire with his family inside.
Brian Williams, who worked for the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, was charged with arson, domestic battery and two counts of violation of an injunction for protection against domestic violence.
On Monday, Williams entered a plea deal that will reportedly put him on probation for one year, with 100 hours of community service, restrict contact with the victim and bar him from returning to the property where the incident happened.
The trial was set to begin on Monday at 9 a.m. in the DeSoto County Courthouse in Arcadia.
Williams' wife at the time told authorities she was trying to avoid him on March 26 as he was becoming violent. She said she was gathering her things to leave when Williams reportedly began breaking things and tackled her.
According to reports, Williams let go of her when the children came into the room.
Williams then reportedly grabbed a torch and set the bed on fire, as well as other items in the house.
Three weeks after the incident, Williams' wife filed a domestic violence injunction and said the abuse had been ongoing for six to seven years, but she didn't want to press charges.
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