HALIFAX — A 52-year-old Halifax man with a prior felony assault conviction and a separate pending felony drug charge was arrested Tuesday after his wife reported that she had been assaulted, threatened and strangled multiple times throughout the day.
James David Williams was arrested October 13 and charged with felony assault by strangulation, assault on a female, communicating threats and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, according to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman went to the Sheriff’s Office shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday to report the alleged assault. Investigators said she had bruising to her neck, arms, shoulder and forehead.
Charging documents obtained by the Roanoke Valley Reporter provide additional details about the allegations.
According to the warrant charging Williams with felony assault by strangulation, he allegedly strangled the woman with one hand, causing bruising around her neck.
A separate warrant charging assault on a female alleges Williams struck the woman in the nose with the back of his hand.
The communicating threats warrant alleges Williams threatened the woman by saying, “I’m gonna slam you” and “I’m going to watch the life come out of you.” The warrant states the threats were made under circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to believe they were likely to be carried out and that the woman believed Williams would carry them out.
The misdemeanor domestic violence warrant alleges Williams grabbed the woman by her hair with one hand while placing his other hand around her throat. The charging document notes that bruising was evident and identifies Williams as the woman’s current spouse.
Detective Sergeant I. Miller obtained warrants for Williams following the investigation. Shortly after 4 p.m., Miller, with assistance from Detective Sergeant C. Watkins, arrested Williams.
Williams was served with the warrants and confined in the Halifax County Detention Center without bond. He was given an October 20 court date.
Separate Drug Case Pending
Tuesday’s arrest comes while Williams is facing charges in a separate criminal case filed earlier this year.
Court records show Williams was arrested by the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office on February 10 and charged with felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The charging document in that case alleges Williams possessed methamphetamine and a clear cylindrical glass pipe intended for use with a controlled substance.
The February drug charges are separate from Tuesday’s case and remain pending.
Prior Criminal Record
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction records show Williams has a criminal history dating back more than three decades, including a previous felony assault conviction.
In April 2012, Williams was convicted in Durham County of felony habitual misdemeanor assault. He received a prison sentence of one to two years. Felony breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering were consolidated for judgment in the same case. Records show Williams was released in April 2013.
More recently, Williams was convicted in Halifax County in June 2022 of felony breaking and entering. He received a prison sentence ranging from one year and eight months to two years and nine months. Williams was released from prison on February 21, 2024, and his post-release supervision ended November 17, 2024.
His record also includes two Durham County convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon stemming from offenses committed in 2001. Williams received a prison sentence ranging from seven years and seven months to nine years and 11 months and was released in December 2009.
The charges filed against Williams in both of his pending 2026 cases are allegations and have not resulted in convictions.
