Salt Lake County Jail

SALT LAKE COUNTY JAIL COMPLAINTS — A man Salt Lake police described as a “serial child predator” in 2008 for exposing himself to schoolchildren, has been arrested again for investigation of the same crime.

Donald Royce Williard, 29, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail late last week for investigation of seven felony counts of lewdness involving a child and one count of misdemeanor lewdness.

Salt Lake police say Thursday afternoon, Williard was riding a bike in the area of 1125 S. 900 East, stopping at random and exposing himself when he saw children walking home from school. At one point, he stood naked in front of a LDS meetinghouse on the steps, walked around for a little bit, and committed a lewd act, according to Salt Lake County Jail records.

Because Williard is a registered sex offender, police say any potential charges should be elevated to felonies.

Salt Lake police detectives are very familiar with Williard. In November 2008, he was arrested for investigation of four counts of lewdness involving a child and two counts involving an adult. His case sparked outrage, even from Chief Chris Burbank, when Williard was released a couple of hours later because of jail overcrowding. He was rebooked into jail two days later.

In May 2008, Williard was arrested for investigation of gross lewdness and voyeurism. He was charged in November 2008 for an earlier incident at Wasatch Elementary School in which prosecutors said he exposed himself to children on the playground.

In March 2009, he was convicted in 3rd District Court of three misdemeanor counts of lewdness involving a child. He was given probation and a suspended jail sentence. He was also required to register with the Utah Sex Offender Registry.

In August 2009, however, he was convicted on two more lewdness counts relating to incidents in October and November of 2008. His probation was revoked and he was sentenced to jail. He was released in December 2009. On Jan. 12, 2010, Williard’s case was closed, according to court records.

Police say they are hoping his latest arrest will result in another conviction and a longer sentence.

“Obviously he’s not going to stop,” said Salt Lake police detective Pat Wilkinson.

Wilkinson said police were also looking for potential additional victims who may have come in contact with Williard. Anyone who may have been victimized by Williard is asked to call police at 801-799-3000.

Written by: Pat Reavy – The Deseret News

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