In a significant legal development, the criminal abuse conviction against former First United Methodist Church (FUMC) pastor Paige Williams has been officially vacated with prejudice, according to a court order filed Tuesday in Christian County Circuit Court. The order, signed by Special Judge Brian Wiggins, means the charges can never be brought against her again.
The case reached its conclusion after the Kentucky Supreme Court declined to review the matter further, following a motion for discretionary review by the Office of the Attorney General. That denial came on March 12, effectively closing the door on additional legal proceedings.
Williams had originally been convicted in March 2023 on eight counts of third-degree criminal abuse. However, on August 16, 2024, the Kentucky Court of Appeals reversed that ruling. The decision hinged on prior case law — specifically Davis v. Commonwealth (1998) and Staples v. Commonwealth (2014) — which clarified that a defendant must have “actual custody” involving direct care and control of a child to be guilty under the statute.
The court concluded that Williams did not meet that legal definition. Evidence presented showed she was not involved in the daily operations of the daycare, nor did she provide direct care to the children. Furthermore, Williams was not a supervisor of Abby Leach, the former daycare director who was separately convicted in the case.
Throughout the two-year legal process, Williams and her family maintained her innocence, arguing that she never had the kind of direct involvement that would justify the charges. This final ruling affirms their stance, marking the end of a difficult chapter.
Earlier this year, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman confirmed that the convictions of two other individuals involved in the case — Allison Simpson and Nina Morgan — were upheld by the Kentucky Supreme Court. Simpson is serving a 20-year sentence, while Morgan received a one-year term in the Christian County Jail.
As of Tuesday’s ruling, Paige Williams has been fully cleared of all charges — a resolution that brings long-awaited closure for her and her supporters.
