Albany, NY – 27-year-old Rahqwah Johnson of Albany was sentenced to three concurrent terms (to be served at the same time) of 6 years in State Prison, followed by 3 years of post-release supervision, before the Hon. Andra Ackerman in Albany County Court late yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. That sentence follows his January 3, 2024 plea of guilty to Three Counts of Assault in the Second Degree.

The indictment alleged that on or about the morning of July 14, 2022, he caused injury to three different victims. One incident took place in the area of Dallius Street and Hudson Avenue, another took place in the area of Grand and VanZandt Streets, and the third was at Albany Memorial Hospital, where he attacked a Patient Care Technician who was providing him treatment.

One of the victims, Johanna Kutey said:

“I pulled into the place I had been parking for almost 8 years (work). Before I could turn off my ignition, I looked up and saw the defendant running towards my Jeep with a metal pipe in his hand… He ran over to the driver’s side, opened the door, and began assaulting me with the metal pipe. As blood gushed from my head, he pulled me out of the vehicle and continued attacking me with the metal pipe. I begged him to stop.”

Another Victim, George Klepacki said:

“I was walking up Van Zandt between Grand and Pearl Street in the early morning, carrying two gallons of paint for a porch. Mr. Johnson, you ran up behind me and swung a steel bar… right on my head… I was bleeding out of my head so badly, my shirt got soaked, and the blood left a puddle on Van Zandt… I’m still going to Albany Medical for neurology… I have ongoing nocturnal seizures most nights, I’m depressed, lack focus, concentration… I forgive him, but he has to pay”

The third victim, Chloe Saternow said:

“The patient grabbed my left arm, and bit down as hard as he could… as the cops were taking the patient off my arm, he got a hold of my right ankle, biting again. While biting me, the cops were tasing him. I remember thinking part of my arm, and/or leg had to be missing, due to the force of this bite.”

ADA Blain-Lewis said:

“Despite claims to the contrary, this defendant made choices that hurt people on July 14, 2022. Rahqwah Johnson chose to smoke synthetic marijuana. He chose to be in public while under the influence of that drug. Those choices ended with three people suffering from serious, long-term, and ultimately avoidable injuries. I hope this sentence brings some relief to the victims and their families.”

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis, the Chief of the Homicide and Violent Crimes Unit, handled the prosecution of this case.