Friday, January 12, 2024

12 Year-Old Victim Punched in Face, Resulting in Losing Three Teeth

           WASHINGTON – Anthony Johnson, 42, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of first-degree cruelty to children and assault of significant bodily injury of a minor for charges that took place in northwest Washington, D.C., on April 5, 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves.

           The verdict was returned on January 12, 2024, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Erik Christian scheduled sentencing for March 14, 2024.

            According to the government’s evidence, on the night of April 5, 2022, Johnson entered the home of the 12-year-old victim, who was at home with several of his minor siblings, his grandmom, and his uncle. Johnson knew the victim’s mother, and after entering the house, Johnson approached the minor victim and began physically fighting with him on the first floor of the home. When the minor victim tried to run away up a flight of stairs Johnson grabbed the victim’s leg, pulled him down the stairs, and punched him in the face, knocking three of the victim’s teeth out.

           Two of the victim’s minor sisters were also at home at that time, and bore witness to  Johnson’s attack on their older brother. One sister called 911, alerting the authorities who took the victim to the hospital.

           In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case form the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Paralegal Specialist Garcia Clarke, Victim/Witness Specialist Lezlie Richardson, Appellate Assistant United States Attorney Bryan Han, Investigative Analyst Lucas Jetson, Forensic Interviewers Tracy Owusu and Tamara Carey, Interns Brittany Madrid, Natalie Norton, and Michael Santos, and Victim/Witness Coordinator Maenylie Watson. 

           Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, LaVater Massie-Banks and Sarah Roessler, from the Domestic Violence Felonies Unit, who investigated and prosecuted the case.