Wyandanch Man Accused Of Raping Woman

WYANDANCH, NY — A Wyandanch sex offender was indicted Wednesday after authorities said he went on a crime spree in September that included raping a woman.

Joseph T. Johnson, 33, faces a host of charges.

Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini said Johnson broke into several cars near the Wyandanch train station in the middle of the night then broke into the home of a woman, whom he raped and strangled. He then stole cash from the home, Sini said.

Two days later, Johnson returned to the home in clown makeup and damaged security cameras, Sini said. Footage taken by the cameras helped police identify him, Sini said.

"This is an extremely disturbing case," Sini said. "This defendant went on a crime spree that escalated from breaking car windows to breaking into the victim’s home twice in the span of 72 hours, raping and repeatedly strangling the victim while threatening her life. This is a dangerous individual and a convicted sex offender who is now off our streets thanks to the excellent work of the Suffolk County Police Department and Assistant District Attorney Ferron Lien."

Johnson is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree burglary as a sexually motivated felony, second-degree burglary as a sexually motivated felony, two counts of second-degree burglary, second-degree strangulation, five counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief and petty larceny.

Acting Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Chris Ann Kelley set his bail at $500,000 cash during his arraignment Wednesday. He is due back in court on March 9.