Johnstown man will serve 5 to 12 years in firearm case

Williams takes plea deal with negotiated sentence

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- A Johnstown man arrested in Altoona in 2021 when he tried to flee from police with a loaded firearm was sentenced Monday to five to 12 years' incarceration, followed by three years' probation.

Terrell Alja Williams, 25, pleaded guilty to felony counts of possession of a firearm prohibited, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, carrying a firearm without a license, escape and related misdemeanor counts.

Blair County Judge Fred B. Miller accepted the plea and imposed the negotiated sentence presented by District Attorney Pete Weeks and defense attorney Sarah Krolikowski of Pittsburgh.

Williams was expected on Monday to select a jury and head to trial later this month. Had Williams backed away from the plea, Weeks said he was ready to proceed with jury selection.

Krolikowski said outside court that her client decided against going to trial based on the plea offer presented Monday. She also said that Williams would have been facing more jail time had he gone to trial and been convicted.

Online court documents show that Williams has been in the county prison since his arrest on March 14, 2021.

He was 22 years old at the time of his arrest and a passenger in a vehicle that Altoona police observed to be going the wrong way on a one-way street.

Police said that after stopping the vehicle, Williams ignored their request to put hands on the dashboard. After asking him to get out of the vehicle, police said he did that but wouldn't put his hands on the hood.

Subsequently, police said Williams reached toward his waistband and took off running and got about 20 feet away when he dropped or discarded a .45 caliber handgun.

Police found that the gun, with an obliterated serial number, had one round in the chamber and 11 rounds in the magazine.

Officers reported apprehending Williams after a lengthy foot chase, then taking him to UPMC Altoona for treatment of asthma-related issues.

Williams' misdemeanor offenses included loitering and prowling, underage drinking and public drunkenness.

The sentence that Miller imposed also requires Williams to be evaluated for drug and alcohol, mental health and anger management issues and to participate in cognitive behavioral therapy. The state parole and probation office will supervise Williams after his release, Miller said.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.