A wealthy business owner in California faces a potential 16-year prison sentence after shocking body camera footage revealed her attempt to bribe police officers and leverage her race to escape a drink-driving arrest.
'Let's end this right now. I'm white.'
Madison Williams, a 29-year-old owner of multiple businesses, was first arrested in Bakersfield on 17 June 2022 and charged with two misdemeanour counts of driving under the influence (DUI). Following a breathalyser test that showed her blood-alcohol content was more than double the legal limit, Williams tried to negotiate her release.
Footage from Officer Singh's body-worn camera, later cited in court, captured Williams offering a $15,000 bribe. She claimed to be "really good friends with all the judges" and threatened to sue. When asked how she proposed to "end this," Williams stated, "Number one, I'm white, so let's stop." The officer replied that her race had nothing to do with the situation.
Privilege, Power, and a Second Serious Crash
Williams refused further sobriety tests, calling them "exhausting." She bragged about her wealth, telling the officer she owned "like half of Bakersfield" and could pay for his job. "I literally am the most spoiled brat that you've ever met in your life," she said. She even attempted to hand over her $600 bracelet.
Her sense of impunity was short-lived. Just three months later, on 14 September 2022, Williams was arrested again after running a stop sign in her Mercedes-Benz and crashing into a home. The collision caused a fire that destroyed the house and seriously injured a baby under two years old and its parents.
The infant suffered a skull fracture, a vertebral fracture, a broken arm, and multiple broken ribs. Both parents also sustained broken bones.
Sentencing Delayed as Prosecutors Push for Maximum Term
In October, Williams was found guilty on multiple felony charges including:
- Driving under the influence causing injury.
- Driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher causing injury.
- Causing a fire of an inhabited structure.
Prosecutors, seeking a 16-year sentence, submitted the transcript from her June arrest to demonstrate she had learned nothing from her first encounter with the law. Judge Kenneth C. Twisselman II postponed her sentencing to 12 December to determine if she is a suitable candidate for probation, requesting a report outlining potential terms.
The case has highlighted stark issues of privilege and accountability, with Williams's own words, "Thank God I'm white," serving as a damning indictment of her attitude towards the law.
