A woman who kidnapped and raised a newborn for 18 years will now be imprisoned for 18 years.
Gloria Williams was sentenced Friday in the kidnapping of Kamiyah Mobley. Williams showed little emotion during the announcement of the punishment that comes after the 52-year-old pleaded guilty in February and accepted a deal of 0 to 22 years in prison.
1. Gloria Williams received two sentences but the maximum time in prison remains the same.
Judge Marianna Aho sentenced Williams to 18 years in state prison for kidnapping Kamiyah Mobley from a Jacksonville hospital in 1998. Williams was also sentenced to five years in prison on the lesser charge of interference with child custody. Both sentences will run concurrently at the same time so the maximum prison time remains 18 years. Williams gets a 511-day credit of time served since her arrest in January of 2017.
2. Williams' plea prohibits book or media deals.
As part of Williams' plea deal, she's not allowed to profit from her crime. This, of course, does not restrict the victim or victim families from sharing their story in return for financial gain. It also does not prohibit Williams' family from being paid. The restriction expires once Williams is released from prison. Williams also waived her right to appeal the sentence.
3. Williams can contact Kamiyah Mobley as she pleases.
In May, Kamiyah's mother Shanara Mobley testified as a state witness during Williams sentencing hearing. In addition to telling the judge she believed a death sentence was appropriate, she also asked for an order restricting Williams from contacting Kamiyah.
On Friday, Assistant State Attorney Alan Mizrahi referenced the dynamic as the most challenging part of the case.
"Many of our cases are very emotional but what made this so interesting is how long ago it was but how fresh it was for the victims to endure," Mizrahi said. "Finding their daughter, but finding that she had feelings for the perpetrator, that was very unique."
4. Kamiyah did not show though she did appear for the sentencing hearing.
Kamiyah chose not to attend the sentence announcement of the woman who raised her. The 19-year-old sat through two days of Williams' sentencing hearing in May, however, she declined to testify. On Friday, Kamiyah's maternal great-grandmother Barbara Stewart said it's likely Kamiyah did not want to feel divided in the midst of this difficult outcome.
5. The sentence is tough but could have been tougher.
Williams avoided the possibility of a life sentence if her case had gone before a jury. The plea deal she accepted came with a 22 year maximum for time in prison. Judge Aho selected a prison term four years less than the maximum but 18 years more than the minimum.
At 52 years old, Williams could be released at 68 or earlier. Jacksonville defense attorney Rhonda Peoples-Waters told First Coast News convicts typically serve around 85 percent of their sentences. Peoples-Waters said she estimates Williams will serve 14 years minus her time served.
READ MORE: Exclusive one-on-one interview with Kamiyah Mobley