A Florida yacht owner and former U.S. Navy submarine commander is facing multiple sexual assault charges after a 22-year-old employee accused him of attacking her aboard his vessel in Nantucket Harbor following an evening that she told police had become increasingly unsettling.
Christian Bradley Williams, 54, pleaded not guilty after being charged over the alleged Aug. 9 incident aboard his yacht, Chimera. The allegations emerged from a police report detailing the hours before and after the encounter.
Williams’ attorney, Thomas A. Kokonowski, has denied the allegations, telling The Boston Globe: “We completely and utterly deny the allegations, as is reflected in his not guilty plea.”
Employee had been living and working aboard the yacht
The “Chimera” was moored in Nantucket Harbor at the time of the alleged rape.David McGlynn for NY Post
The woman, whose identity has not been made public, had arrived on Nantucket in June to work for the Nantucket Launch Company.
According to the police report, company owner Max Shapiro arranged for her to stay aboard Chimera, which was moored in Nantucket Harbor. In exchange for housing, she performed duties aboard the yacht including running the generator, doing laundry and retrieving water.
Williams spent part of the summer aboard the vessel with his wife, their 2-year-old son and the child’s 19-year-old nanny. On Aug. 9, his family and the nanny left Nantucket for Florida, while Williams planned to remain on the island.
Later that afternoon, the employee returned to the yacht and found Williams aboard.
According to her account to police, Williams invited her to dinner and told her to “put on a dress” because he wanted to go somewhere nice. She agreed.
When he saw her after she changed, Williams allegedly told her she looked “amazing.” The woman later told investigators that this was the moment she first began sensing that something was wrong.
Dinner allegedly became increasingly uncomfortable
Williams owns the yacht, the “Chimera” where the reported assault took place.Facebook/Louie Williams
The employee told police that Williams made a series of remarks during the evening that made her uneasy.
According to the report, he indicated that he did not want his wife to know they were going to dinner. He also allegedly made comments about the employee’s appearance and boyfriend and spoke about having previously wanted to make an advance toward one of his wife’s friends.
At approximately 8 p.m., the woman said she had become nervous enough to tell Williams directly: “I want to go back now.”
She also alleged that Williams asked her to pay the restaurant bill because he did not want the transaction appearing where his wife could see it. After dinner, he reportedly withdrew $500 from an ATM and gave it to her even though the bill had been approximately $250.
Williams allegedly suggested going somewhere else for another drink, but the woman declined and said she wanted to return to the yacht.
One more drink aboard Chimera
Facebook posts show that Williams has ties to the US Navy.Facebook/Laura Williams
Once they were back aboard the vessel, the woman said she planned to go to bed at around 8:30 p.m.
According to the police report, however, Williams became persistent about having one more drink together and prepared a rum beverage.
The woman told investigators that she had consumed only two alcoholic drinks earlier that day. After drinking the beverage Williams prepared, she said she suddenly became extremely dizzy and her vision began to fade.
She also told police that Williams asked if he could kiss her and that she refused, saying she wanted to go to bed.
Christian Bradley Williams, 54, allegedly raped and sexually assaulted a 22-year-old employee aboard his yacht moored in Nantucket Harbor on Aug. 9.Nantucket Police
The woman alleged that the next thing she remembered was Williams on top of her.
“I’m your employee, please get off me,” she recalled telling him, according to the police report.
She accused Williams of restraining and sexually assaulting her before taking her to his bed, where she said she immediately lost consciousness.
When she woke hours later, she said she was unclothed beside Williams and noticed physical signs that led her to believe she had been sexually assaulted.
Employee left the yacht and sought medical help
Williams’ wife, child and nanny returned to Florida on Aug. 9 but he stayed abord his boat.Facebook/Laura Williams
After leaving Chimera, the woman contacted Shapiro and was taken back to the dock.
According to the police report, she told him about what she said had happened aboard the yacht. She also allegedly confronted him over the housing arrangement.
The woman claimed Shapiro responded by asking why she was telling him and whether she had clocked in for work. Shapiro has disputed that version of their conversation.
“The recap of the conversation on the dock is not at all accurate,” he said, adding that he was cooperating with the investigation and did not want to comment further out of concern for the woman and the ongoing case.
The employee said she quit.
She then walked away from the dock crying and called her father.
“Something bad just happened on the boat. I was assaulted. I need you to pick me up,” she told him, according to the police report.
The woman subsequently went to Nantucket Cottage Hospital, where she underwent a sexual assault examination.
According to investigators, results later returned from the Massachusetts State Police forensic laboratory on Sept. 1 and were positive for male DNA. The publicly reported information does not establish whose DNA was detected.
Williams pleads not guilty
Williams’ wife was reportedly bringing his bail to Nantucket, his attorney said in a hearing on Tuesday.Facebook/Laura Williams
Williams was subsequently arrested and arraigned in Nantucket District Court.
The original report stated that he faced three counts of rape and an indecent assault and battery charge. More detailed court reporting lists three counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older. He entered not-guilty pleas.
Williams has ties to the U.S. Navy and previously commanded the USS Springfield submarine, according to social media posts cited in the original report.
He was initially ordered held on $50,000 cash bail or $500,000 surety. Subsequent court records reported by The Boston Globe show that Williams was released after posting the $50,000 bail.
His attorney has maintained his innocence and rejected the allegations against him.
The case remains pending, with Williams due back in court on Oct. 26.





