State prosecutors have dropped a case against a Milton man accused of sexually assaulting a transgender boy, saying the complainant no longer wanted to engage in the criminal justice process.
The defendant, Alfonso Williams, 42, was charged in Chittenden County in 2022 with aggravated sexual assault of a child younger than 13. Police said he attacked the 12-year-old in 2019 partly due to the child’s gender identity, making it a hate-motivated crime.
Investigators said Williams knew the child, and reportedly said it was “not right” the child wanted to be a boy. Under state law, a person’s gender identity is a protected category, and a crime that is wholly or partly motivated by the victim’s protected category is classified as a hate-motivated crime.
Williams’ case was going through pretrial proceedings when the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office dismissed it in September, according to court records. When asked about the reason for the dismissal, State’s Attorney Sarah George said the complainant no longer wanted to pursue the case.
“They were really wanting to move forward with their life,” George said in an email, “and we do not force victims of sexual assault charges to engage in the legal process beyond their comfort level.”
Williams’ felony charge was dismissed without prejudice, which means prosecutors maintain the option of recharging him.
He has two other pending cases in Chittenden County, both involving charges of aggravated domestic assault in 2022. He is currently under court-imposed conditions of release.
