A 17-year-old Grossmont High School student has testified he was carjacked by a man who put hypodermic needles to his neck, saying they contained the AIDS virus.
The student, who was only identified in court as Branik, pointed to Thomas Johnson, 36, as the man who approached him outside a restaurant on Parkway Drive in La Mesa March 28 and initially asked him for a ride.
Branik told El Cajon Superior Court Judge Lantz Lewis he wouldn’t give Johnson a ride, but Johnson then pulled out needles from his pocket or waist and put them “a couple of inches” from his neck.
“I was in shock. I was scared,” said Branik in the preliminary hearing. “He said ‘I will stab you with these needles that have AIDS.’”
Branik said he drove onto Interstate 8, the College area and Waring Road as Johnson kept changing directions as to where he wanted to go. Finally, Branik punched him in the jaw and escaped from his 2000 Ford Ranger truck.
Branik ran toward a 7-Eleven in Allied Gardens and called police while Johnson drove off in his truck. Johnson was later arrested following a chase from police but the truck was wrecked. Johnson was seriously injured.
Branik was not hurt in the 40-minute ordeal, but was shaken up. Branik said he bought the truck for $3,000 and his lost possessions including a laptop in the vehicle were valued at $980.
Lewis ordered Johnson to stand trial for kidnapping during a carjacking, robbery, felony assault, making a criminal threat, auto and grand theft. He was additionally ordered to stand trial for attempted robbery, elder abuse and evading police with reckless driving in other crimes after the carjacking.
Johnson was escorted into court in a wheelchair, and his attorney, Samantha Greene, told Lewis her client does have AIDS. His parents from Chicago were in the courtroom audience.
Greene asked the $2 million bail be lowered to $500,000, and she said Johnson’s parents have agreed to relocate to San Diego to care for their son, who has had four surgeries and cannot walk since the incident.
“He’s suffering medically,” said Greene.
Deputy District Attorney Matthew Carberry opposed the bail reduction, saying Johnson has a prior robbery conviction and poses a flight risk. Lewis lowered the bail to $1.5 million.
Johnson was ordered to next appear in court Aug. 18. Johnson has pleaded not guilty.
If Johnson is convicted of kidnapping during a carjacking, he could face life in prison.
