Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 04/11/03

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney: Christine Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

TWO LIFE TERMS FOR RAPIST WHO PLOTTED TO MURDER RAPE VICTIM

The Office of the District Attorney announces that on April 10, 2003, Anthony Ejane Johnson was sentenced to two life terms in his rape and murder for hire cases. Judge Robert Boyd sentenced the 29 year old Johnson to the maximum term of 25 years plus 50 years to life.

On November 21, 2001, Johnson entered the Mission Thrift Store in Santa Rosa, hid in the store until after closing, and then raped and robbed a 54 year old store clerk. Although Johnson tried to hide his identity with a ski mask, the clerk recognized his voice because he had previously worked at the store. Before leaving the store with almost $1000 from the store safe, he threatened to kill the clerk if she reported his crimes. While his rape case was pending in Sonoma County courts, Johnson conspired with his wife, Cathy Petersen, to have the clerk killed so she could not testify against him. They solicited an undercover Santa Rosa police detective to carry out the murder for $5000. Johnson told the detective, “No witness, no trial.” The detective, Mike Tosti, posed as a hit man after learning of the plot from an informant. The rape investigation was handled by Detective John Snetsinger and the conspiracy investigation was handled by Detective Lance Badger, both of the Santa Rosa Police Department.

On October 9, 2002, a jury found Johnson guilty as charged by the District Attorney of robbery, burglary, criminal threats, attempting to dissuade a witness and a “one strike” rape offense and two other sex offenses. “One strike” sex offenses are part of the three strikes sentencing scheme, which provides for life terms if certain facts are proved true. Because these sex offenses were committed during the commission of a burglary of a commercial establishment closed to the public and involved tying and binding of the victim, the sex offenses carried a life sentence of 25 years-life.

On December 11, 2002, a second jury found Johnson guilty as charged by the District Attorney of conspiring in and soliciting the murder of the store clerk. The conspiracy to commit murder charge also carried a term of 25 years to life, hence the two life terms. The defendant’s sentence was further enhanced because he had previously suffered felony convictions that resulted in two prior prison terms. Johnson was on state parole at the time he committed these crimes.

Petersen was sentenced in January to nine years and eight months in prison for her part in the plot. In December 2002, she plead no contest to soliciting murder and testified against Johnson in his second trial.

At the sentencing hearing Thursday, the District Attorney’s Office, represented by Deputy District Attorney Christine Cook, argued for the maximum term permitted by law because of the danger Johnson poses to the community and the heinousness of his crimes. Johnson has a long criminal history, much of which involved violence toward women, including prior felony domestic violence convictions and numerous offenses of indecent exposure. The rape victim was present in court for the sentencing with members of her family. Instead of speaking in court in front of her assailant, she submitted a letter for the court’s consideration detailing the far-reaching effects of Johnson’s crimes against her. Though she continues to struggle with the emotional impact of the crimes, she was pleased with the outcome.