The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Cleveland man guilty of rape
30-year-old will be sentenced Aug. 24 for sexually abusing Concord Twp. woman
After about two hours of deliberations July 26, a Lake County Common Pleas Court judge found a Cleveland man guilty of sexually assaulting and robbing his female friend.
Brian A. Johnson, 30, went on trial July 25 on one count each of rape, aggravated burglary, burglary and robbery.
Judge John P. O’Donnell said he was convinced that Johnson — who waived his right to a jury — was guilty on each count.
“I do find (the victim) to be credible,” O’Donnell said.
The 19-year-old Concord Township woman testified Johnson came to visit her March 29 at her former Willoughby Hills apartment to smoke marijuana with her.
However, he instead threw her on the bed and raped her. He then fled with her cellphone and 2 ounces of marijuana, she told the judge.
In addition, several police officers testified the teen was crying and hysterical when she came to report the incident that night.
“This was a difficult case. The verdict was just,” Lake County Prosecutor Charles Coulson said.
Assistant Lake County Public Defender James Mathews said Johnson will appeal.
“I think there was clear evidence of (the woman) being deceptive — not only in the testimony but in the past recounting of their sexual history,” Mathews said.
During the trial, the defense attorney described the teen as a drug dealer who had consensual sex with Johnson in the past and lied about it initially to police.
Mathews also noted that she admitted sending
him nude photos on Snapchat even after telling him she just wanted to be friends.
Johnson is being held without bond in Lake
County Jail until his Aug. 24 sentencing.
Johnson did not take the stand in his own defense, and no other defense witnesses were called.