Case # 07CF2849
Date: January 21, 2016
MEDIA ADVISORY
WHO: Supreme Court of California
WHAT: Affirmed the death penalty sentence of Billy Joe Johnson who was found guilty by a jury on Oct. 14, 2009, of one felony count each of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and accessory after the fact. The sentencing enhancements for criminal street gang activity, the vicarious discharge of a firearm by a gang member causing death, murder by lying in wait, and murder committed for a criminal street gang purpose were found true. Johnson has three prior strike convictions for a 1983 residential burglary, 1989 robbery, and for beating an inmate in prison in 1995. To read the full press release about this case, please visit our website at www.orangecountyda.org and select the Press Releases and Media Advisories tab underneath the Media Center pull-down menu to search for, “White Supremacist Gang Member Sentenced to Death for Conspiracy Murder of Fellow Gang Member Who Divulged Gang Secrets.”
This case was originally prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ebrahim Baytieh. The California Attorney General’s Office handled the appeal for this case.
WHEN: Today, Jan. 20, 2016
WHERE: To read the court’s opinion, please visit our website and select, “The People v. Billy Joe Johnson – Supreme Court of California affirms death penalty,” in Reports under the Reports pull-down menu.