District Attorney J. Collin Sims announces that Brandon Justin Lee Williams, 38, of New Orleans, who was convicted last month of multiple violent offenses and subsequently fled justice, has been apprehended.
Today, October 6, 2026, members of the United States Marshals Service located and arrested Williams in Lake Charles, Louisiana, without incident. He will be booked in Calcasieu Parish, then transported back to St. Tammany Parish to face sentencing before the Honorable Judge Tara Farris Zeller.
On September 23, 2026, a St. Tammany Parish jury found Williams guilty on all counts following a trial prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Zachary Popovich and Taylor Nicholson. Williams was convicted of:
- Second Degree Rape
- Domestic Abuse Battery Involving Serious Bodily Injury
- Domestic Abuse Battery Involving Child Endangerment
- Cruelty to Juveniles
The convictions stemmed from a comprehensive October 2024 investigation by the Slidell Police Department into severe domestic abuse and sexual violence occurring at a residence in Slidell. Williams failed to appear in court for the reading of the jury’s verdict on September 23, prompting Judge Zeller to issue an immediate bench warrant for his arrest.
“Brandon Williams thought he could evade the law and escape accountability for the horrific abuse he inflicted on a mother and her children,” said District Attorney Collin Sims. “Thanks to the dedication of the U.S. Marshals Service, working in coordination with our local law enforcement partners, this dangerous predator is in custody where he belongs. He will be brought to St. Tammany Parish to face the consequences of his crimes and receive the sentence handed down by the court.”