Source : ABC NEWS
A semi-professional basketball player has been jailed for raping a woman, who was a friend at the time, while she was heavily intoxicated.
WARNING: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.
Roosevelt Aaron Williams Junior, 23, volunteered to accompany the victim to her home in August 2023 after a night out.
When the pair, who were both aged 21 at the time of the offence, arrived at the woman’s home, Williams helped her to bed, and she asked him to stay with her.
The court heard Williams began having sex with the woman while she was in a vulnerable state, but stopped when he realised she was bleeding.
He then left the victim’s home and sent several text messages to his friends, which were read in court, describing what he had done and admitting he should not have.
“Lowkey shouldn’t have tbh, she’s so drunk, but I have f***ed her before,” one of the texts read.
When the victim questioned Williams the next morning after waking up to find she was bleeding from her vagina, experiencing pain and blood on her sheets, he denied they had sex.
Roosevelt Williams Jr texted friends after the incident, saying he should not have done it. (ABC News: Lauren Smith)
The court heard that after the incident and throughout the investigation, Williams lied to and misled the victim and authorities about what had happened on the night.
He had claimed the act was consensual because, while having sex, the victim did not indicate she didn’t want to.
During his sentencing remarks, Judge Mark Ritter said the victim was incapable of giving consent due to how intoxicated she was and that Williams understood the vulnerability of the victim.
‘You used her’
Judge Ritter said Williams put his own “sexual gratification” above his friendship, abusing the victim’s trust.
Roosevelt Williams Jr will be eligible for parole in 2027. (ABC News: Lauren Smith)
“Your offence involved the violation of her body and integrity,” he said.
“You used her as a sexual piece of meat, not as a woman who had rights.“
Williams was sentenced in the District Court on Wednesday to three years and two months in prison and given a lifelong violence restraining order.
The case went to trial in November 2025 and on day two, Williams changed his plea to guilty.
Supporters of both Williams and his victim were at the District Court for the sentencing. (ABC News: Lauren Smith)
The courtroom was full of family and friends of the victim and those supporting Williams, including his partner.
Judge Ritter said Williams’s remorse was belated, which was evident in his behaviour after his offending.
He will be eligible for parole in October 2027.
Basketball suspension
Williams had played for the Willetton Tigers in the NBL1 West competition, formerly known as the State Basketball League.
The court heard Williams had been playing basketball and studying at Peninsula College in the United States in 2023, and had travelled back to Perth during a college break when the offence was committed.
In her sentencing submission, Williams’s lawyer Zarah Burgess explained how he had hoped to play basketball professionally.
Roosevelt Williams Jr has not played basketball since he changed his plea to guilty last November. (Supplied)
“Basketball is his passion, and he was well on his way to make it his career,” she said.
Ms Burgess said Williams had been open with Basketball WA about his case since charges were laid and he had continued to play.
But after changing his plea to guilty, the court heard he had been suspended.
