AUSTIN, Texas — A man was sentenced to five years in prison after after making “derogatory and homophobic comments” and threatening a bus passenger with a box cutter in the summer of 2022.
George Johnson, 35, was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Travis County jurors found that he intentionally selected the victim because of bias against a group identified by sexual preference.
The judge sentenced Johnson to five years in prison for each count, to be served concurrently in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Police arrest man wanted for assaulting bus rider in North Austin
The attack occurred June 14, 2022, on a Capital Metro bus in North Austin. According to bus surveillance video presented at trial, Johnson approached the victim with a box cutter and slapped him in the face.
The Austin Police Department arrested Johnson eight days after the incident, following an anonymous tip.
On May 18, 2023, Johnson was reindicted on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, with an added allegation that he intentionally selected the victim based on sexual preference bias.
The victim was not seriously injured.
The trial began Monday with jury selection, and testimony was heard the following day. The jury deliberated Wednesday before returning guilty verdicts.