Wednesday, May 24, 2017
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A man convicted in February of attempted murder for almost beating a woman to death pleaded no contest in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for stabbing another woman three days after the attack for which he was convicted.
Judge Lou D’Apolito found Michael Johnson, 38, guilty Tuesday of felonious assault.
Sentencing in both cases is set for Thursday.
Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Paris said Johnson beat and stabbed a woman March 30, 2016, and stabbed her in the arm. The woman required stitches to close the wounds, Paris said.
A trial was to have taken place Tuesday, but after negotiations most of the morning, Johnson entered his plea.
The attack happened three days after a 31-year-old woman Johnson knew was found severely beaten in her home on Worthington Avenue on the North Side.
That victim was found the same day Johnson is accused of stabbing the woman in the felonious assault.
Jurors in February convicted Johnson of attempted murder for the first attack. Prosecutors said it was a miracle the woman survived. The attack came a few days after Johnson had an argument with a family member of the victim.
Witnesses at the trial testified the injuries the victim sustained were so bad that when her father went to the emergency room to see her, he walked right by her without recognizing her. One of the police officers who testified also called the victim’s injuries some of the worst he has ever seen.
As Judge D’Apolito went over the plea agreement with Johnson in open court, Johnson stopped at the part where he was asked if he was threatened by anyone to change his plea. He said he did not want to elaborate, saying he understood the rights he was giving up by pleading no contest and went ahead with his plea.