Orange County Board of Education Trustee Ken Williams and a 20-year-old man were both cited last year for assault and battery after an altercation in Silverado. The man, Caden O’Malley, recently filed a civil lawsuit against Williams.
The March 11, 2023 altercation between Williams and O’Malley was reviewed by sheriff’s deputies which resulted in both men receiving a citation, said Orange County District Attorney spokesperson Kimberly Edds.
“Based on the totality of the evidence,” said Edds, “our prosecutor determined he was ‘unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt who the primary aggressor was. Mutual combat with valid self-defense argument by both.’”
O’Malley filed a civil lawsuit on Jan. 17, alleging that he was left with “significant physical and mental injuries” from the altercation with Williams.
The lawsuit alleges that O’Malley encountered Williams’ car blocking traffic in Silverado. As both vehicles were in motion, Williams allegedly repeatedly hit his brakes in front of O’Malley, prompting O’Malley to pull over. Williams also pulled over and approached O’Malley’s vehicle, “screaming insults” and “kicking his vehicle,” according to the lawsuit. O’Malley got out of his vehicle and approached Williams’ car to photograph his license plate, the lawsuit says, at which point Williams allegedly rushed at him, knocking his phone away.
The lawsuit alleges that Williams then threw O’Malley to the ground, climbed on top of him and began to choke him.
Williams, who is running for re-election to his OCBE seat, initially declined to comment due to “advice from legal counsel.” But in an email, Williams said, “My political opponents in this campaign and election cycle have no message to voters on March 5th other than to attack my personal and professional career, and character.”
“In my 28 years as an elected county board of education trustee, my woke political opponents attack my support of teachers,…
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