Cory D. Johnson, 46, of Long Beach entered guilty pleas to third degree assault and three counts of felony harassment in Pacific County Superior Court Friday afternoon.
Johnson was arrested by Long Beach Police Officer Casey Meling following the report that Johnson, who was riding his bicycle, road in the direction of an Illwaco teacher and two special needs high school students who were walking to a project, and threatened to kill them. Johnson yelled at the group, "I'll meet you down at the parking lot (explicative) and I will kill you." Johnson apparently also asked, "You want to die (explicative)" to the group. Johnson then rode off shouting incoherently.
Fearful, the teacher returned to the school and reported Johnson's conduct to his principle, who called the police. Officers located Johnson shortly after riding his bike in traffic and yelling.
"Johnson's conduct might not otherwise have warranted a felony charge, and certainly not several counts, but for the fact that Johnson did this to special needs students and also had a concealed knife on his person," said Pacific County Prosecutor Mark McClain. "While I felt it was most protective of our community to require a plea to several felony charges so that if he does this again he will be required to go to prison, I also believed that requiring treatment for an apparent mental illness, at least according to his family members and his attorney, and getting Johnson medically stable would likely address Johnson's conduct."
Johnson was sentenced to three months in jail and subject to one year of probation as well as prohibited from having contact with those he threatened.