Burke County Sheriff Faces Court Over Extortion Charges, Bond and Curfew Set
Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams appeared in U.S. District Court in Augusta for an initial appearance on charges of extortion and transferring a gun to a felon. U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps set Williams' bond at $50,000, unsecured, and imposed a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Williams' attorney requested modifications to the curfew to allow the sheriff to operate his cigar lounge, but the court maintained the restrictions. Williams, who was indicted on five counts of Hobbs Act Extortion, allegedly used his office to solicit payments to dismiss DUI cases. He has denied the charges, attributing the prosecution to political motivations and racism. 
