Family speaks out after plea deal for man charged in deadly road rage incident

LEHI, Utah – The hearing between the State of Utah and John Jeffery Williams took place Wednesday afternoon in the Fourth Judicial District Court, where Williams pleaded guilty to homicide by assault and driving under the influence.

The parties came to an agreement following a road rage incident in Lehi took place in early June. And led to the death of 38-year-old Michael Brown. It was a very emotional day for the Brown family, there were not a dry eye in the courtroom.

“Because of uncontrolled anger and hatred, the inability to breathe and keep driving, Mr. Williams changed the course of this beautiful family’s life forever,” said Lynn Mortensen, Brown’s father-in-law.

Brown and his two sons, aged nine and 10, were on their way to meet their mother when a road rage incident changed everything.

“It’s the traumatic way we lost Michael. You never think your family member will be murdered in such a brutal way,” said Cyndi Brown, sister-in-law.

The family is dealing with trauma, especially the two sons.

“He killed my husband. In front of my children and he only had to serve 26 days in jail. When Mr. Williams was arrested, not charged, but arrested for aggravated assault causing bodily harm. This would have been a secondary offense when Michael was pronounced dead. The charge was dismissed to assault and battery, which is a 3rd degree sham. This is devastating to me,” said Mandi Brown, wife of Michael Brown.

Three family members were present at the hearing on Wednesday and gave statements. “The only reason the family decided to take the plea deal was to spare the boys trauma,” Cindi Brown said.

The parties agreed to a five-year agreement on a zero-tolerance probationary period. “He cannot break any law, otherwise the punishment would be in full force again. Furthermore, the children did not have to testify that the restitution was a significant amount that he could pay very quickly,” said Brandon Merrill. , Attorney for homicide survivors in Utah. The restitution amount is approximately $213,000.

Mandi Brown, Michael’s wife and mother of their children, emphasized that they only wanted to prevent their sons from being in danger. “What they had to witness took away their innocence and introduced them to a darkness that my husband and I worked so hard to protect,” said Mandi Brown.

During the court hearing, Michael’s father-in-law read letters written by his grandchildren:

“I see the whole fight in my mind, in great detail. I see Dad lying unconscious on the road, bleeding everywhere. We can’t spend any more birthdays with our Dad, his favorite was Christmas and that day will be like this.” We can’t learn sports from him anymore, watch movies with him, play Lego with him, he can’t sit in the stands and watch us play,” said Lynn Mortensen, Brown’s father-in-law.

The family tells FOX 13 the devastation and heartbreak is immeasurable. “I’ll miss him at Thanksgiving. We’ll miss him at Christmas. We missed him on the boy’s birthday and we miss him every day,” Cindi Brown said.