Courtyard Marriott Trial Verdict

Courtyard Marriott Trial Verdict

Dutchess County Chief Assistant District Attorney, Matthew A. Weishaupt, announced today that Roy Johnson was convicted by a Dutchess County jury of the crimes of Murder in the Second Degree, for the murder of Paul Kutz that occurred at the Courtyard Marriott on October 2, 2022. Johnson was also convicted of three Counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, and Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree. Johnson was acquitted of the Attempted Murder charge related to the worker in the Bistro area of the hotel lobby. The trial took two weeks and the jury deliberated for approximately a day and a half before returning the verdict. Chief Assistant District Attorney Weishaupt said “The Kutz family has been devasted in a way that we cannot comprehend nor change, but we hope this verdict will in some small way provide the family with the ability to move forward. The family remains in our prayers.”

Chief Assistant District Attorney Weishaupt praised the cooperation and work of the law enforcement agencies involved from the outset. The Town of Poughkeepsie Police who headed the investigation worked seamlessly with the Troop K State Police Forensic Investigations Unit, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, the Safe Streets Task Force, City of Poughkeepsie Police, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, other responding law enforcement agencies, and members of our District Attorney’s Office both at the scene and in the months that followed. Weishaupt further stated “It is this collaborative team effort that led to this verdict. This effort never waned despite outside pressures. Everyone involved in this case deserves a great deal of credit for remaining focused on the task at hand; it was truly an outstanding job.”

Weishaupt praised Bureau Chiefs Kristine Whelan and Robert Knapp, Deputy Bureau Chief Angela Lopane, Crime Analyst Andrea Tegtmeier and the team of ADAs, Investigators, and support staff for their dedicated and exceptional work in preparing this case for Grand Jury and Trial. The Discovery process involved in this case was unprecedented and took more than six (6) months to fully compile and turn over as required by law. All the personnel involved in the Discovery process and case preparation should be commended for doing an outstanding job.

Judge McLoughlin continued the remand of the defendant without bail and has set sentencing in this matter for June 26, 2023, at 9:30 am.

The defendant, Roy Johnson faces Forty (40) years to life in prison following his conviction on the charges set forth above. Chief Assistant District Attorney Weishaupt said “The egregious facts of this case speak for themselves, and we will recommend the maximum penalty allowed by law.”

Mr. Johnson still faces felony Murder and Robbery charges in the August 9, 2022, murder of Darren J. Villani in the City of Poughkeepsie.

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Author: Harlem Valley News