Staff photo / Ed Runyan John D. Johnson, 36, of Boardman, pleaded guilty to rape and was sentenced to 3 to 4 1/2 years in prison Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

YOUNGSTOWN — John D. Johnson, 36, of Shields Road in Boardman, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of rape and got 3 to 4 1/2 years in prison for raping a young woman Jan. 1, 2024, at his home.

The woman told Judge Maureen Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court that she suffered severe physical and emotional injuries as a result of the rape. She was taken to the hospital, underwent surgery and thought she might die, she said.

Caitlyn Andrews, county assistant prosecutor, said the woman had to have emergency surgery for several serious injuries that caused “substantial bleeding.” Andrews said Johnson committed a forcible rape against the woman, which was part of the statutory language for the rape offense to which Johnson pleaded guilty.

Johnson was indicted on being a felon in possession of a firearm, but that charge, as well as a second rape count, was dismissed in exchange for Johnson’s guilty plea to the other rape charge.

There was no allegation that he threatened the woman with the gun, but when investigators went to his home with a search warrant to look for DNA evidence, they found a weapon there, Andrews said. Johnson was not allowed to possess a weapon because of having been convicted in 2014 in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court of felony heroin possession, according to Johnson’s indictment.

The victim told Sweeney that “Jan. 1, 2024, changed my life forever.” She said she received surgery where “doctors attempted to save my life.” She said she was hooked up to multiple IV bags full of blood because of “blood loss.” The episode has left her “absolutely terrified to be alone,” and she missed work “due to my surgical recovery.”

She said, “I was told not to call police or paramedics, that I was overreacting, that everything would be fine, and thankfully by the grace of God I’m here.” She said she has “night terrors almost every single night.” She said she knew Johnson for four days. “Those four days of talking to you, meeting you, etc., those four days changed my life forever.”

The offenses took place on the fourth day, Andrews said. The victim knew a relative of Johnson’s, and she and Johnson “talked” in the days before the rape, Andrews said.

Andrews said the reason the case was resolved in this way was “It was going to be a he-said, she-said situation. He claimed from the beginning that it was consensual sex. She has claimed that it wasn’t. I think, obviously, her injuries suggest that this was not consensual sex.”

The victim wanted the case resolved in this way to reach “finality,” Andrews said. Because this was a jointly recommended sentence, Johnson cannot appeal, Andrews noted. Johnson is now a tier 3 sex offender and must register every 90 days for the rest of his life when he leaves prison.

Prior to Johnson being sentenced, his attorney, Tom Zena, said he understands that normally this type of case does not get the minimum sentence, but the prosecution and defense asked for this sentence.

He said Johnson “will proceed and wants to proceed to get this matter over rather than take the chance of proceeding with a trial and in the event that he would feel the jury would get it wrong and convict him.”

Johnson got credit for 247 days spent in the Mahoning County jail awaiting trial.