A chronically homeless man in East Nashville is now among the first people in the country to face felony charges simply for camping in a public park.
Joseph Lamont Williams, 49, was taken into custody on June 28 after he refused to leave the park where he had been living for years. He was charged with two felony counts of camping on state property after police discovered him residing there.
Williams remained in jail for nine days before a judge stepped in and dismissed the felony charges against him. Following his release, he returned to the same park.
His case is drawing attention as states across the country move to pass and enforce stricter camping bans as a way to address homelessness. These laws are becoming more common, and Williams represents one of the earliest examples of someone facing felony-level consequences under such measures.
