Gov. David Paterson’s aide, David Johnson is expected to appear in New York Criminal Court in the Bronx Thursday to hear misdemeanor assault charges against him for an alleged attack on his ex-girlfriend Sherr-una Booker last Halloween. Hordes of reporters have been camped outside the Bronx County District Attorney's Office and inside the courthouse waiting for the latest developments.
Johnson turned himself in to investigators and is expected to appear before a judge late Thursday afternoon or early evening.
Paterson, coincidentally, is expected to sign legislation Friday that would make strangulation a crime even if there are no physical injuries on the victim. Under current New York law, strangulation is not assault unless there are physical injuries.
In the case of David Johnson, the police told Booker, who accused Johnson of choking her, that they couldn’t arrest Johnson because they didn’t see any injuries.
If the law is signed it will have no effect on Johnson’s case, as laws can’t be enforced retroactively.
Ailsa Chang is an award-winning journalist who covers criminal justice, terrorism and the courts for WNYC. She found her way into public radio after practicing law for five years, and can definitely say that walking the streets of New York City with a microphone is a lot more fun than being holed up in the office writing letters to opposing counsel.
Comments [1]
It is so hypocritical for David Paterson to make domestic violence a signature issue of his while hiring woman beaters as his closest aide. For too long, David Paterson has used the state as an employment agency for his friends, gal-pals and associates. This practice needs to stop now.
David Paterson proved long ago that he could not govern. “The Democratic Conference: Organizational and Operational Structure Report” is an eyewitness account of Paterson’s DYSFUNCTIONAL governing nature while Senate Minority Leader.
http://www.politico.com/static/PPM110_demreportfinal.html
Paterson’s office was criticized for PATRONAGE, LACK OF LEADERSHIP, INDECISIVENESS and INFIGHTING, set against a backdrop of general CHAOS – in other words the office was a ZOO. Those interviewed in the report indicated that its chief of staff the disorganized Michael Jones-Bey, was negligent, had no management skills, and should be relieved of his duties.
Amazingly, for running such a DYSFUNCTIONAL CHAOTIC office, the disorganized Michael Jones-Bey was hand picked by David Paterson to mismanage the Division of Minority & Women Owned Business Development (MWBE) at Empire State Development Corporation.
Now that's the Paterson Way - being rewarded for your incompetence.
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