According to the Public Ministry, William Correia founded and leads the group “Anjos da Guarda Vigilância Comunitária”, accused of organizing persecutions and publishing images of teenagers suspected of crimes in the South Zone of Rio. — Photo: Reproduction social networks
The São Paulo Court acquitted William Correia da Silva Júnior in the case in which he was accused of sexual harassment against a 16-year-old athlete during a competition in 2021. The decision was made by judge Cristina Alves Biagi Fabri, from the São Paulo Court, and was published on September 25, 2026.
William is a representative of a self-styled "vigilante group" that operates in the South Zone of Rio and appointed by the Public Ministry of Rio as "Copacabana's vigilante".
According to the complaint from the São Paulo Public Prosecutor's Office, William made inappropriate comments about the teenager, sent messages on social media inviting her to enter his hotel room and even entered the place where the victim was with a colleague, also a minor.
William denied the accusations (see note below). In court, he stated that he was never alone with the teenager and that he did not make sexual comments or have physical contact with her.
In the sentence, the judge stated that the victim's word has "extreme relevance" in sexual crimes, but that it must be analyzed together with other evidence. According to the decision, the versions presented were contradictory and the messages attached to the process did not prove the practice of sexual harassment.
The judge also stated that she did not identify in the conversations "insistent, aggressive or intimidating behavior" on the part of the accused nor any attempt to meet alone with the teenager.
The sentence also pointed out that William was not the victim's teacher or coach, but acted as the competition's political coordinator. Thus, he was acquitted. The São Paulo Public Ministry said it will appeal the decision.
In 2021, William acted as a representative of the State Secretariat for Sport, Leisure and Youth of the State of Rio de Janeiro (SEEL/RJ), accompanying the Rio delegation that participated in a school competition in São Paulo.
William was dismissed from the position he held in the RJ government in 2020. Even so, he participated in the event in São Paulo the following year, where the young woman reported that everything happened. A collaboration agreement signed between the State Department of Sports and Leisure (SEEL/RJ) and the Niteroiense Association of the Physically Disabled (ANDEF) allowed Willian to be included in the official delegation as a member of the support team even without him being a government employee.
The documents in which his name appears as staff at the event were delivered by Andef to the São Paulo Court during the process.
The case was initially registered at a Women's Assistance Police Station in Rio de Janeiro. In testimony, the specialized hearing understood that there were no signs of sexual harassment. However, because the crime took place in São Paulo, the investigation was transferred to a police station in the capital of São Paulo.
The São Paulo Civil Police indicted William Correia for ongoing sexual harassment, after trying twice, unsuccessfully, to formally cite him regarding his status as an investigator. The Public Ministry's complaint was accepted by the Court in May 2026.
In another case, William is being investigated for organizing persecutions and publishing images of teenagers suspected of crimes in Copacabana – a neighborhood where, in August, a man was beaten to death after being mistaken for a thief.
Defendant denies crime
William's defense sent a statement to the press about the decision in the harassment case. Read:
"William Correia received with serenity the decision of the São Paulo Court that dismissed the criminal action and acquitted him of the accusation.
The sentence was handed down after the investigation of the case, response to the accusation, hearing from those involved, oral arguments from the defense, with the analysis of the statements, the messages attached to the file and other elements of evidence. Although it recognized the importance of the report presented by the young woman, the Court concluded that the evidence produced did not demonstrate the commission of the crime charged to William.
The decision stated, among other reasons, that the messages analyzed did not show any sexual advances, insistent, aggressive or intimidating behavior, nor any elements capable of demonstrating the sexual purpose required to constitute the crime. In the end, the Court considered the acquittal to be a measure of rigor.
William thanks everyone who, from the beginning, showed his solidarity and, above all, sought to know the facts responsibly, respecting due legal process and avoiding premature conclusions.
William also highlights that he regrets that information and content related to the process were publicly disclosed while the controversy was submitted to the Judiciary, especially given the repercussions that accusations of this nature can have on the personal, professional and public life of any person."
Investigations into 'punishers'
In the center of the photo, William Correia, who is appointed by the MP as founder and leader of the group “Anjos da Guarda Vigilância Comunitária” (AGVC). — Photo: Reproduction social networks
Correia is appointed by the Public Ministry as founder and head of the group “Guardian Angels Community Surveillance” (AGVC).
According to the MP, the collective organized actions of persecution, exposure and violence against teenagers identified as perpetrators of robberies and thefts in the South Zone, used social networks and messaging applications to call for “hunts” on public roads, publicize images of teenagers and organize informal “rounds” in neighborhoods such as Copacabana and Ipanema.
At least two investigations against him are underway at specialized police stations in Rio.
william correia — Photo: Globo / Disclosure
