Jury Convicts Salinas Man For Torture, Mayhem in 2018 Attack On Ex-Girlfriend

SALINAS (BCN/CBS SF) -- A Monterey County jury has convicted a Salinas man of multiple felony counts including torture and mayhem in connection with a November 2018 assault of his ex-girlfriend, according to authorities.

30-year-old Donovan Johnson was arrested on November 12, 2018 after assaulting the mother of his four children, according to reports.

The Monterey County District Attorney's Office said in a Facebook post that Johnson and the victim had an argument over the victim's refusal to continue to be in a relationship with him.

According to the District Attorney's Office, Johnson became upset and asked entry into the victim's home to discuss the status of their relationship. When the victim refused and locked the door, Johnson jumped the fence, broke into the house and began to punch and assault the victim in front of their children.

Johnson then demanded that the victim leave with him in his car, but she repeatedly refused to go. At one point during the assault, Johnson slashed
the victim in her legs, face and back with a box-cutter, authorities said. Johnson then drove the victim to a Salinas hospital.

The district attorney's office noted in a Tuesday Facebook post regarding the trial that Johnson severed the nerves and the muscles on the victim's legs during the attack, and the victim was left unable to walk for approximately a month after the incident.

The jury found Johnson guilty of torture, simple mayhem, attempted false imprisonment, child abuse, corporal injury to a fellow parent and assault with a deadly weapon, along with enhancements involving great bodily injury and the use of a weapon. The victim did not testify during the trial.

Following the convictions, Johnson is facing a lifetime prison sentence. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 23 in Monterey Superior Court.