Jealous Ex Followed Up Threats With Knife Attack: Rockland DA

A Pomona man who prosecutors say threatened his ex and her boyfriend, and then carried out those threats that night with a knife attack on them both, has been indicted in Rockland County.

Brandyn Johnston was arraigned on an eight-count indictment charging him with:

• Two counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, class “A” Felonies
• Three counts of Burglary in the First Degree, class “B” violent Felonies
• One count of Assault in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony
• One count of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a class “B” Violent Felony
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony

“The defendant’s jealousy turned violent, resulting in the senseless attack on a young woman and the wounding of an innocent man," Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe said in an announcement Wednesday. "She fell victim to the defendant’s explosive temper and, as a result, will suffer physical and emotional pain for the rest of her life. The perpetrator now faces the possibility of 25 years behind bars.”

On Sept. 17, Johnston allegedly sent a series of threatening text messages to an ex-
girlfriend and mother of their child. According to the charges, the content of the messages blamed the ex-girlfriend for “everything that’s gunna happen.”

He also allegedly threatened the woman’s new boyfriend via text message, writing he would send the man to the hospital “on sight.” Johnston also threatened to “cut his face open” in a separate text message.

Then about 11 p.m., he kicked in the door to the woman’s home, prosecutors allege.

According to the charges, Johnston brandished a knife before stabbing the ex-girlfriend in the elbow
and torso. He then stabbed the woman’s current boyfriend approximately 12 times about the face, chest, stomach and back. The man suffered a collapsed lung and underwent emergency surgery.

Johnston, 24, faces a maximum of 25 years in state prison on the top charge.

Photo: Brandyn Johnston/ Rockland County DA's Office

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