Bond set for Jones county man charged with domestic violence, kidnapping and vulnerable adult abuse

JONES COUNTY, Miss. - This is a press release from the Jones County Sheriff's Department.

On June 17, 2016, Jones County Deputies were dispatched to a residence at Windsor Court in Jones County in reference to a domestic dispute. The 68 year old victim reported to the deputy that her longtime boyfriend, William Jerry Sims, 65 of Laurel, physically assaulted her.

The deputy immediately noticed injuries to the victim, Sims stated she had fallen on a table.

The victim said, the previous day she had been punched in her face several times. There was severe bruising to her face, a knot on her head and bleeding from her cheek and mouth areas. She was transported to a local hospital for medical attention.

Upon being taken into custody, Sims was at first belligerent and not willing to follow the orders given by the deputy. After a bit of a struggle, he was successfully taken into custody and transported to the Jones County Adult Detention Center.

As the victim was recuperating from her injuries, under medical supervision, she reported to Jones County Sheriff’s Investigators on Monday, June 20, 2016 that Sims had, on numerous occasions, locked her inside a closet, keeping her from eating, drinking or utilizing the bathroom, while standing for hours.

When interviewed, Sims claimed he used that tactic as a disciplinary measure, a “Time Out” for her. The victim also reported Sims deprived her from going to her heart doctor, deprived her from taking baths, tied her up on one occasion in the bathroom with a cord, put a cloth over her mouth and whipped her with a belt. He also took her money after withdrawing it from the bank.

Sims was charged with Vulnerable Person, Abuse or Neglect Of, Domestic Violence – Aggravated Assault and Kidnapping, all felonies. He was also charged with misdemeanor counts of Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. Judge Billie Graham set his bond at $25,000 per felony charge, a total of $75,000. Judge Graham also issued a No Contact order.