Release Date: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 3:30 p.m.
Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Jacob Alan Johnson, 26 years old, previously residing in the 3300 Block of Spring Breeze Court, was sentenced today by Circuit Court Judge J. Warren Stephens to thirty-five (35) years in the Virginia Department of Corrections on convictions of Aggravated Malicious Wounding, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, and Child Cruelty/Neglect/Abuse (2 counts). The Court suspended all but eighteen (18) years of the sentence conditioned upon 30 years supervised probation, 30 years good behavior, having no contact with the victims, and payment of court costs. The defendant was further ordered to pay $13,888.94 in restitution to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund and to the victim for medical and living expenses.
The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on July 18, 2008 the Virginia Beach Police Department received a 911 call from Johnson’s brother-in-law advising he found his sister and Johnson injured and unconscious in their bedroom next to a gun, and their two small children locked in a bedroom. Johnson and his wife were transported to the hospital for their gunshot wounds. On July 15, 2008, Johnson locked his two small children in a bedroom, shot his wife, and then wrote a lengthy suicide note before shooting himself. Johnson was treated and soon released from the hospital to the custody of the Virginia Beach Jail. The injuries to Johnson’s wife were severe and as a result, she underwent several surgeries and was hospitalized for an extended time. She has lost the use of one arm and has difficulty speaking. The couple’s children were in the locked room for days. Johnson admitted to shooting himself and his wife but claimed it was an accident.
Johnson’s prior criminal history includes a conviction in 2003 for a misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana in Virginia Beach.
Associate Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul J. Powers prosecuted the case. Please call Julie Pickell if additional information is desired.
Similar Press Releases: aggravated malicious wounding, child abuse, child cruelty, child neglect, felony, Harvey Bryant
