Overview
- San Diego Superior Court Judge Lisa Rodriguez recalled Charles “Andy” Williams’ 50-years-to-life sentence and ordered his case moved to juvenile court for potential resentencing.
- The San Diego County District Attorney filed an immediate appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal seeking to halt the juvenile-court proceedings.
- If the appellate challenge fails and juvenile resentencing proceeds, Williams could be released from prison, potentially with juvenile probation and without parole supervision, according to prosecutors.
- The eligibility decision relies on case law treating lengthy terms for juveniles as the functional equivalent of life without parole, an area where appellate courts have recently split.
- Williams was denied youth-offender parole in 2024 as an unreasonable public-safety risk, and victims and survivors voiced anger over the ruling as a February 9 juvenile-court status hearing is set.