ATLANTIC CITY — A Gloucester County woman has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault after Atlantic City police officers responding to a disturbance at Tropicana Casino allegedly watched her approach a person who was already on the ground and kick the victim in the face.
Anntanette Johnson of Clayton pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree aggravated assault before Superior Court Judge Ralph A. Paolone, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
The plea agreement calls for Johnson to receive three years in New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act, which generally requires defendants convicted of covered offenses to serve 85% of their sentences before becoming eligible for parole.
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 6.
The case stems from a March 1 incident at Tropicana Atlantic City.
Atlantic City police officers were dispatched to the casino for a report of a physical altercation.
When officers arrived, prosecutors said, they saw Johnson approach a victim who was already on the ground and was not involved in the altercation.
Johnson then kicked the victim in the face, according to authorities.
The victim was knocked unconscious and suffered a subdural hematoma — bleeding between the brain and its outer covering — along with a fractured nasal bone.
The Prosecutor's Office has not publicly identified the victim.
Some published reports have identified the victim as a woman, while another identified the victim as a man. The account attributed directly to prosecutors refers only to “the victim,” so South Jersey NewsBeat is not identifying the person's gender.
Plea Calls for Three-Year Sentence
Second-degree crimes in New Jersey ordinarily carry a potential prison sentence of five to 10 years.
Johnson's negotiated plea calls for a recommended three-year term, below that ordinary range. The plea announcement does not explain the circumstances behind the negotiated recommendation.
Because the proposed sentence would be subject to the No Early Release Act, Johnson would be required to serve approximately 30½ months of a three-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
The ultimate sentence will be imposed by the judge.
Assistant Prosecutor Rachel Koutishian is representing the state in the case.
Johnson's guilty plea means the case will now proceed to sentencing rather than trial.
About the Author
Karen Johnson
With over 30 years of news experience in major markets like Los Angeles, Denver, and Columbus, Karen now covers our area for South Jersey NewsBeat. She also brings her articulate and conversational news delivery to WOND radio listeners every weekday. Her background includes work with the NBC Radio Network, and she thrives in fast-paced news environments.
