Johnathan Wright, of Lindenhurst, convicted of repeatedly burning 2 women with clothing iron
A Lindenhurst man faces 50 years in prison after being convicted of burning two women with a clothing iron in a Ronkonkoma hotel room in July 2021.
Johnathan Wright, 34, was convicted Thursday of 46 charges, including four counts of first-degree assault, six counts of fourth-degree tampering with a witness, 32 counts of second-degree criminal contempt and one count of first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person.
He faces sentencing April 30.
In a statement Thursday announcing the conviction following a jury trial, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Wright not only "repeatedly" burned the two victims with the hot clothing iron, but then dissuaded them "from seeking medical attention for their injuries." He later attempted to have one of the victims recant her story to police following his arrest, according to Tierney's office.
Authorities said one of the women suffered from "mental disabilities" — and said Wright became "enraged" after the two fell asleep while giving him "a back massage" at the hotel on July 21, 2021.
Evidence at trial showed Wright refused to allow the victims to seek medical treatment or report the assault to police for "weeks" after the incidents took place, instead attempting to treat the two himself.
It wasn't until one of the victims returned to her home in Coram in August 2021 that the incident was reported, with the help of her mother.
Wright was arrested on Aug. 17, 2021. During his incarceration, he used a recorded correctional facility phone line to make repeated calls to the victims — in violation of court issued orders of protection — during which he threatened the victims and their families and attempted to bribe one of the women to recant her statement, the district attorney's office said.
Tierney added, "I am thankful for and deeply admire the bravery of these women in coming forward to the police, and I commend the work of law enforcement and my prosecutors for ensuring that this defendant is finally held accountable for these horrific crimes."
Wright's attorney, Ian Fitzgerald, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
With Tiffany Cusaac-Smith
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
