Shortly before wide receiver Mike Williams was traded from the Buccaneers to the Bills, he was entered into a pre-trial intervention program that would have allowed Williams to avoid charges for trespassing and criminal mischief in a December incident that included $200 damage to his girlfriend’s front door.
Williams has to complete the program for that to happen, something that became problematic since he is now working in Buffalo instead of Tampa. The agreement was negated, but the case remained open and moved forward on Thursday. Mike Rodak and Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com report that Williams was granted permission to continue the program in Buffalo at a court hearing in Florida.
The charges were part of a run of off-field issues for Williams in Tampa that coach Lovie Smith called “disturbing” and may have contributed to the team’s decision to send Williams to the Bills for a sixth-round pick.
Williams was not in Florida for the hearing because he was taking part in OTAs for the Bills. If he can remain out of trouble, Williams will be expected to provide E.J. Manuel with a reliable target in Manuel’s second season as Buffalo’s starter.