James Johnson Sentenced In Knife Attack Case

A Gillette man will be spending time behind bars after he admitted that he attacked a Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper and another motorist with a knife.

Twenty-two year old James Johnson was sentenced to 10-to-20 years in prison, after he pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and battery, by way of threatening with a drawn deadly weapon, and one count of possession of a controlled substance.

According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, in middle-May 2015, Trooper Michael Kyte approached Johnson on I-25 South, about 20 miles north of Casper, because Johnson was having vehicle problems.

Kyte learned that there was an arrest warrant out of Gillette for Johnson, for driving under suspension.

When informed, Johnson dove into his vehicle to retrieve a knife, then came back out and lunged at Kyte with the weapon.

Johnson tried to flee the area on foot, managed to stop another motorist, and tried to jerk the door open in an effort to get a ride.

The motorist tried to hold Johnson for the trooper, but Johnson was able to break free, and swung at the motorist with the knife, but missed.

The motorist then tried to drive away, but Johnson held on to the vehicle, until the driver stopped a short distance later, and Johnson was taken into custody.

Twenty-two and one-half grams of methamphetamine was later found in the trunk of Johnson's vehicle.

At the sentencing hearing, Trooper Kyte forgave Johnson for his actions.

Johnson actual sentence was seven-to-10 years in prison for the first aggravated assault charge, and three-to-10 years in prison for the second aggravated assault charge.

Both of those sentences will run consecutive to one another, or one after the other.

Johnson was also sentenced to two-to-four years in prison for the possession charge.

That sentence will run concurrent with the other 2 sentences, or at the same time.