Former Council aide convicted of DUI

A former Philadelphia City Council sergeant-at-arms was found guilty Monday of two counts of driving under the influence by a Municipal Court judge.

Rodney Williams, 42, who had worked for Council since 2004, did not testify, and defense attorney Robin Colley Pitt called no witnesses during the hour-long trial before Judge Gerard A. Kosinski. Kosinski set sentencing for April 1.

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Kotchian presented two police witnesses who testified about Williams' condition when he was stopped Sept. 8. According to police, the incident began at 2:30 a.m. when Robin Jones, a 14-year city employee and a receptionist in Council President Darrell L. Clarke's office, crashed the city car she was driving at 13th and Hamilton Streets. Police said Jones, 50, called Williams for help and he was arrested when he arrived in another city car.

Jones and Williams were fired for being arrested on DUI charges and for driving city-owned "pool cars" available only to Council members and some staff. Jones' trial in Municipal Court is set for Wednesday. - Joseph A. Slobodzian