Man convicted of blinding RPD officer sentenced to 40 years to life

Evan Bourtis

[anvplayer video=”5114199″ station=”998131″]

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — A judge has sentenced Keith Williams, the man convicted of stabbing an RPD Officer in the face and blinding him, to 40 years to life in prison.

Body camera footage shows Williams stabbing Officer Denny Wright multiple times while he was responding to a domestic call in October of 2019 at a Peck Street home. Before the attack, Williams was hiding under a bed when Wright asked him if he needed help. After shortly getting up, Williams punched and stabbed the officer.

Judge Alex Renzi said to Williams before the sentencing “You may be human but you are possessed by something very evil”.

The judge also spoke directly to Wright, saying “You can not see all the support in this room right now but something tells me you can feel all the support you have right now."

Williams was convicted of attempted murder and three other counts on May 4. During the trial, Wright took the stand to describe the attack and jurors watched the officer’s body-worn camera footage.

“The system works. There’s a price to pay for your actions and he’s paying for his now," Wright said after hearing the guilty verdict.

During the court proceeding for the sentencing, Wright and his family members gave victim impact statements. Wright said, “Although this man took my eyesight, he will not take another thing from me and my family."

His wife said, "Keith Williams, you did not destroy us, you made us stronger,” and asked for the maximum sentencing. His daughter said, “my dad was the officer everyone in the community wanted in their corner."

RELATED: ‘The system works’: Man accused of blinding RPD Officer in attack found guilty on all counts

RELATED: Officer Denny Wright testifies about the day he was attacked