Man faces 6 months in jail for ‘boisterous’ yawn

updated 7:29 a.m. ET Aug. 12, 2009

JOLIET, Ill. - Drowsy spectators in one suburban Chicago courtroom might want to stifle their yawns from now on.

Clifton Williams, 33, of Richton Park, is facing six months in jail for making what court documents call a yawn-like sound in Will County Judge Daniel Rozak's court last month.

The yawn happened as Williams' cousin, Jason Mayfield, was being sentenced for a drug charge on July 23.

Rozak found Williams in contempt of court and sentenced him to six months in jail. However, Rozak could free Williams after a status hearing Thursday, if Williams apologizes and the judge accepts. By then, Williams will have served 21 days.

Witnesses disagree about whether Williams' yawn was out of line.

‘A very loud statement’
Charles Pelkie, spokesman for the Will County state's attorney's office, said the prosecutor in the courtroom at the time told him that what came out of Williams' mouth could hardly be called a "yawn."

"This was a very loud, boisterous, deliberate attempt on the part of this individual to disrupt the proceedings and show disrespect to the court," Pelkie said. "It was not a guy who involuntarily yawned. This guy was making a statement — a very loud statement — in court."

Mayfield disagreed, saying it was "not an outrageous yawn." Williams has written his family to say that he can't believe he's in jail "for nothing."

A message left for Rozak Tuesday was not immediately returned.

Six months is the maximum sentence judges can give for criminal contempt without a jury trial.

More on: Illinois

More from msnbc.com World Blog: Bracing for climate-change migrants Bank bailout will cost taxpayers billions Scoop: Kate says kids 'sobbing' at loss of cameras Brazilian police accused of killing 11,000 since 2003 Send us your salutes to troops, friends, kin Giving back for the holiday season? Tell us how On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM WEIRD NEWS

Weird news Section Front

Adult-themed ‘Frosty’ videos stir outrage Christmas story: Boy licks pole, gets stuck Pair allegedly sells moonshine at day care Half-naked Santas run for charity 1788 cognac fetches $37,000 at auction Woman kept honey bear, leopard cat in condo Smuggled kangaroos freed; man arrested 15-year-old Wis. cheddar sells for $50 per pound Jail frees wrong inmate named ‘Ismail’ 'Elf' jailed over dynamite hoax on Santa Weird news Section Front   Add Weird news headlines to your news reader: