“My number one priority is empowering the victims.”
Citing the collective wishes of former Saugerties police officer Dion Johnson’s victims to avoid a trial, Ulster County Judge Bryan Rounds gave Johnson a conditional discharge during sentencing on Friday, April 11.
The plea deal also includes a $3,000 fine, 60 hours of community service, and bans Johnson from serving as a police officer anywhere in Ulster County.
“Would they in a perfect world, probably want more? Of course,” said Rounds. “When a woman is victimized like the women in this case were victimized and go through the process, they feel like they are not heard: I hear you.”
Johnson pleaded guilty on Monday, February 3 to charges of Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, Official Misconduct, and two counts of Harassment in the Second Degree. The alleged conduct, which includes stalking, unwanted sexual contact and workplace sexual harassment, took place while Johnson was on duty or acting under his authority as a Saugerties police officer. His victims included a private citizen and two fellow Saugerties Police Department (SPD) officers, all women.
Both Rounds and District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji affirmed that the victims all preferred to avoid a trial.
During sentencing last week, Administrative Assistant District Attorney Sajaa Ahmed read impact statements from the two female officers, who said Johnson’s actions and the response from former chief Joseph Sinagra and the SPD had tainted their love of police work. In the statement, the two unnamed officers said that because they were women, and because Johnson was the first black officer ever hired by the SPD, he was given preferential treatment. One of the officers said that during a subsequent job interview with another police department, she was asked if she’d filed a sexual harassment complaint against a fellow officer.
Rounds said Johnson’s actions might have made it difficult for other people of color to be taken seriously as candidates for a role in law enforcement.
“There was a time when it would have been laughable for you to think you would ever be a police officer,” Rounds said. “You’re hurting everybody behind you.”
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