Auburn, NY - District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci announced today that the Cayuga County Grand Jury has handed up an indictment against TAJ WILLIAMS, 24, of QUEENS, New York arising from a March 2024 incident where it is alleged that he caused physical injury to a correctional officer at Auburn Correctional Facility. The grand jury also handed up an indictment against YAKEZ CORNETT, 29, of ITHACA, New York, arising from assault on staff at Auburn Correctional Facility in August of 2023.
Both WILLIAMS and CORNETT are each charged with (2) counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class D Violent Felonies, involving separate assaults on correctional staff. With respect to each count, the indictments allege that each defendant, with intent to prevent the Correction Officer from performing a lawful duty, caused physical injury to the Officer(s). Each count of Assault in the Second Degree is punishable by up to 7 years in prison and 5 years’ post-release supervision. Any sentence will run consecutively to their current prison terms by operation of law.
WILLIAMS initially refused to be transported for arraignment and was later arraigned in Cayuga County Court before Hon. Jon E. Budelmann on August 27, 2024. His next court date is November 12, 2024. CORNETT was arraigned in Cayuga County on July 2, 2024. His next court date is set for September 24, 2024. Since each incident at Auburn Correctional, both CORNETT and WILLIAMS were transferred to Attica Correctional.
***As with any other individual accused of a crime, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. ***
