A black woman who said she was held captive and tortured last summer is relieved that at least one of the seven people indicted in the case will be punished for a hate crime, her legal adviser said Monday. Three people have pleaded guilty, including a white woman who was the only one indicted on a hate crime charge because authorities say she stabbed Megan Williams in the ankle while saying "This is what we do to n------ down here." The Logan County prosecutor has said it would have been difficult to prove hate crimes were committed by the other defendants, even though they used the same racial slur.

Malik Shabazz, a co-founder of Washington, D.C.-based Black Lawyers for Justice, said Monday that he was in Charleston to visit Williams, who had surgery for an injury suffered in the attack.

He did not describe the injury but said it had to do with a stick prosecutors collected as evidence from where Williams, 20, was held captive at a trailer in the Big Creek area of Logan County, about 35 miles southwest of Charleston. Williams said she was forced to eat animal feces, sexually assaulted and stabbed. She was rescued Sept. 8 after an anonymous caller alerted deputies.

"Megan Williams has had to have surgeries for injuries related to that piece of evidence," Shabazz said.

He also said Williams "is feeling pretty good in this hour to know some of them have received the sentences they received."

The Associated Press generally does not identify people alleging sexual assault, but Williams and her mother agreed to release her name.

Karen Burton, 46, of Chapmanville, pleaded guilty to malicious wounding, assault and violating Williams' civil rights. The charges carry as many as 30 years in prison, and sentencing is set for March 3.

Her daughter, 23-year-old Alisha Burton, and 27-year-old George A. Messer pleaded guilty to kidnapping and assault and received 10-year prison sentences.

Williams "is behind longer sentences being pursued in these crimes against her," Shabazz said. "The ringleaders in this crime have yet to be brought to justice. We're hoping the judge will come down hard on these defendants."

Authorities angered many of Williams' supporters by initially refraining from charging any defendants with a hate crime. The hate-crime charge against Burton came when a grand jury announced the indictments last week.

Felony charges including kidnapping and sexual assault are pending against Bobby Brewster, 24; his mother, Frankie Brewster, 49, of Big Creek; and Danny Combs, 20, of Harts. A seventh defendant, Burton's son, Linnie Burton Jr., 21, was indicted last week on a misdemeanor battery charge. All have denied wrongdoing.

Prosecutor Brian Abraham did not immediately return calls seeking comment Monday.