Johnathan Wright, a 34-year-old resident of Lindenhurst, received a prison sentence of 32 ½ to 40 years. This ruling came after a Suffolk County judge found him guilty of assault and other related charges.
Prosecutors claim Wright was sleeping at a Ronkonkoma hotel with two ladies, one of whom had mental impairments, on July 21, 2021, when he grew upset after the women fell asleep while giving him a back massage.
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According to investigators, Wright choked and assaulted the victims’ faces and bodies before attempting to shove them out of the hotel window. He then forced them to strip naked and bound them together with a belt.
Wright allegedly repeatedly burned the women all over with a hot iron while they were in captivity. Throughout the ordeal, he cautioned them not to scream and threatened that if they did, the fire would spread faster.
The torment lasted three to four hours before Wright told the women to shower while he slept on the hotel bed.
According to authorities, Wright barred the victims from seeking medical attention for their wounds or reporting the incident to police for weeks later. He “treated” the wounds himself with paper towels.
One of the victims reported the abuse upon returning home in August 2021. After his arrest, investigators caught Wright on a jailhouse phone call, bribing and threatening the ladies and their families to prevent them from assisting in the investigation.
On Thursday, March 28, a Suffolk County jury convicted Wright of the following crimes:
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- Four counts of assault (felony)
- Endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person (felony)
- Bribing a witness (felony)
- Seven counts of tampering with a witness (felony and misdemeanor)
- Thirty-three counts of criminal contempt (felony and misdemeanor)
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney expressed his satisfaction with the delivery of justice, but emphasized that the support for the victims does not stop there. Tierney assured that they will persist in advocating for the victims’ rights, offering them the necessary resources, and ensuring that their voices are heard.
