Transient Pleads Not Guilty in Attacks on Gay Men in Palm Springs

By City News Service, image Shutterstock

Felony charges with hate crime allegations were filed Monday against a 30-year-old transient accused of attacking two gay men at random in Palm Springs.

Joshua Wade Johnson pleaded not guilty this afternoon to two counts of assault causing great bodily injury and one count each of felony battery and elder abuse. Each of the charges also carries a sentence enhancement alleging the acts were hate crimes.

A judge ordered Johnson’s bail increased from $25,000 to $200,000.

He was arrested Thursday afternoon after being held for police by one of his alleged victims and a witness, Palm Springs police Lt. Mike Kovaleff said.

The first attack occurred about 4:45 p.m. June 20 in the 1800 block of North Palm Canyon Drive.

Officers spoke with the 71-year-old victim and several witnesses, who said the suspect approached the man as he walked out of a business and asked him his sexual orientation, Kovaleff said.

When the victim responded that he was gay, the man punched and kicked him repeatedly, then ran away, the lieutenant said.

The victim, who was not identified, sought medical treatment on his own for an unspecified injury suffered in the attack, Kovaleff said.

Investigators identified Johnson as the suspect but did not know his whereabouts.

Last Thursday, police responded about 4:30 p.m. to a report of a fight in progress in the 63000 block of 20th Avenue.

Johnson allegedly walked up to a 22-year-old man outside of a business and asked him for spare change, Kovaleff said. When the man declined to give him money, Johnson allegedly made a derogatory remark and asked the victim his sexual orientation.

The man said he was gay, and Johnson allegedly tried to attack the man but the punches largely missed their mark, police said.

The victim and a witness held Johnson down until police arrived, Kovaleff said.

Johnson was being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, and is due back at the Larson Justice Center on July 9 for a felony settlement conference.