POLK CITY, Fla. — Cheryl Williams was found guilty on all charges, including second-degree murder of Deputy Sheriff Blane Lane, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
On October 4, 2022, Lane was serving a felony warrant when he was shot and killed by another member of the Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO).
Williams had an outstanding felony warrant for failure to appear on a possession of methamphetamine charge.
All deputies except for Lane, who was taking up a tactical position outside, went inside the trailer. Williams, according to PCSO, stepped into view of the deputies and pointed a silver handgun at them, which later turned out to be a realistic-looking BB gun.
According to PCSO, Sergeant Brooks and Deputy Holsonback fired at Williams when she stepped into view, and she went down.
Lane then reported he had been shot. It was later stated by PCSO that the round that struck Lane appeared to come from either Brooks or Holsonback's firearm.
Williams was found guilty on all charges in a Jury trial on Thursday.
"This suspect's outrageous criminal actions were the cause of my deputy being killed in the line of duty, and the jury appropriately found her guilty as charged. Her family can visit her in prison, but Blane's family has to visit his grave in a cemetery and can only have a one-sided conversation with him. We will never forget Deputy Blane Lane, and his family remains in our prayers," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
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