On Tuesday, June 7, 2011, in the Circuit Court of Taney County, a seven-man, five-woman jury returned guilty verdicts for promoting prostitution and endangering the welfare of a child against Ann Margaret Williams (d.o.b. 04/09/1966), of Protem, Missouri. Sentencing for Williams has been scheduled for August 11, 2011, in front of Judge Mark Orr.

The evidence in the case presented by the Taney County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was that, in late-December 2006 through 2007, Williams forced her fifteen-year-old daughter to have sex with Billy Joe Hunter (d.o.b. 05/06/1947), of Protem, Missouri. The prosecution alleged that Williams did this in order to persuade Hunter to allow she and her children to reside with Hunter, as well as to persuade Hunter to have sex with the defendant following her daughter. In 2008, Williams’ daughter gave birth to a child, and DNA evidence proved the child was Hunter’s. Just before the baby was born, Williams’ daughter told investigators that Williams actually required her to have sex with Hunter, that the daughter received money from Hunter for sex, and that Williams was present during all but one of the numerous sexual encounters.

Williams faces a maximum sentence of fifteen (15) years in prison for the promoting prostitution charge, and seven (7) years and/or a $5,000.00 fine for endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree. In November of 2009, Billy Joe Hunter entered guilty pleas to the charges of statutory rape and statutory sodomy for his role in the abuse of Williams’ daughter.