LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Nebraska receivers coach Keith Williams was charged Monday with third-offense driving under the influence after a weekend crash in which he rear-ended an Uber driver’s vehicle in downtown Lincoln.
Williams appeared in court by video from the Lancaster County Jail, where he had been held since his arrest early Sunday. A judge said he could sign out of jail by posting a $5,000 personal recognizance bond and ordered him not to drink alcohol while he’s out. He was out of jail by late afternoon.
The 45-year-old Williams’ blood-alcohol level was reported at 0.15, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08. That high a reading could have led to a felony charge for aggravated DUI. He instead was charged with misdemeanor DUI and cited for careless driving after the crash, in which no injuries were reported. He pleaded not guilty.
Coach Mike Riley said steps would be taken by the university but did not provide details.
“There are things about representing and there also is the bottom line: this is dangerous, dangerous stuff,” Riley said. “People get killed, kill others, kill themselves. That’s all bad. We’ll have an assessment, evaluation of it, and then you talk about things like intervention, education, and then there’ll be consequences which I’m not ready to talk about right now.”
Police spokeswoman Officer Katie Flood said Williams has two prior DUI convictions, both in California in 2004 and 2009. Riley said the university was aware of Williams’ previous DUI convictions before he was hired in 2015. Riley said Williams was “cleared” in the hiring process and “went forward as a normal employee.”
Williams’ arrest came on the weekend five-star receiver recruit Joseph Lewis of Los Angeles was on campus for a visit.
Riley said he, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf and graduate assistant Hardie Buck would coach the receivers for the time being.
In this Aug. 9, 2016, photo, Nebraska wide receivers coach Keith Williams, left, laughs with head coach Mike Riley during NCAA college football team practice in Lincoln, Neb. Williams was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after a car crash involving two vehicles early Sunday, Aug. 14. Nati Harnik AP Photo