Although an Orangeburg man was sentenced to life in prison, a circuit judge expressed concern after a jury returned a guilty verdict on a kidnapping charge and found the defendant not guilty of rape.

A jury deliberated three hours before concluding Thursday afternoon with the mixed verdict. Jonathan Maurice Johnson, 29, of Orangeburg Manor Apartment 295, Orangeburg, was charged with first degree criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping after a woman reported being raped on Broughton Street.

"I would have been deeply concerned for the womenfolk of Orangeburg County if upon this evidence you were permitted to go free," Cottingham told Johnson. "As I have said, seldom, if ever, in the horrible crime of rape is there collaboration."

First Circuit Senior Assistant Solicitor Angela Garrick Avinger said Thursday's conviction, combined with Johnson's prior record, warranted a life sentence.

"I'm pleased with the verdict because a second most serious conviction will result in a life-in-prison-without-parole sentence," Avinger said. "Based on his extensive prior record and his horrendous acts, that punishment is well-deserved."

On July 6, 2002, police received a 911 call around 6 p.m. from a woman at a Broughton Street business reporting that a man entered the business and asked about a camera near the cash register. The victim said the man then produced a screwdriver, grabbed her by the throat and dragged her to a rear storage area.

The victim said Johnson refused to take money she offered him. The victim said he then forced her to perform sexual acts before he raped her.

A DPS report indicated the victim was found "in the middle of the rear room shaking frantically and crying."

In addition to the heinous nature of the crime, the case gained further notoriety when arresting officers said they were disappointed with the original bond given Johnson. Bond was set the following day at $25,000 surety by an Orangeburg magistrate, leaving police shaking their heads in frustration.

While Orangeburg Department of Public Safety officers felt unsupported, Avinger said it was officers' arrival within three minutes of the call that resulted in the Johnson's arrest in a nearby wooded area.

"Those guys need to be commended," Avinger said. "You can't do any better. They get there within a couple of minutes, and they get the guy. That's great police work."

First Circuit Deputy Solicitor Robby Robbins said it was Avinger's preparation that should take at least partial credit for a habitual offender being taken off Orangeburg's streets.

"I think Angela was one of the most well-prepared lawyers that I saw," Robbins said. "She did a great job preparing for trying the case. It was one of the most extremely difficult cases to try."

A defense motion to file for a new trial based on a lack of evidence drew further admonishment from the bench.

"I've been at the bench and bar for 51 years. I've been on the bench for 20 years," Cottingham said. "This was absolutely one of the strongest cases that my career has experienced. There was simply overwhelming evidence that you committed these atrocities against the victim."

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5516.

You must be logged in to comment.