A 28-year-old Greeley man was sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison Wednesday for two otherwise unrelated violent attacks.
Ernest Williams, 28, of Greeley beat another inmate in custody at the Weld County Jail and tried to intimidate a witness after he was arrested in 2009 on charges of kidnapping, aggravated robbery, assault and extortion, prosecutors said.
He was one of five people who kidnapped and beat a Kersey man on Nov. 5, 2009. Williams agreed to plead guilty to felony extortion and received nine years in prison.
While in jail, Williams beat another inmate who allegedly spoke ill of a fellow gang member. Williams pleaded guilty to intimidating a victim or witness and received another nine years in that case.
The sentences must be served consecutively, bringing the total prison sentence to 18 years.
Williams also will have to serve three years on parole.
