State offers accused I-35 rock-thrower Pat Johnson plea deal
AUSTIN, Texas — Accused serial I-35 rock-thrower Pat Johnson is in court Monday to face assault charges related to the rock-throwing incidents that plagued Austin.
CBS Austin has learned that Johnson has been offered a plea deal for 40 years in prison by the state.
Earlier this month, Travis County Prosecutor Leslie Booker said Johnson wanted to confess to the crimes.
Booker says Johnson made a confession to the court regarding the rock throwing incident during sentencing for his sexual assault charge.
Johnson was arrested in June and charged with attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after police say he was responsible for the majority of the rock throwing incidents over the last two years.
Several media outlets have reported receiving correspondence from Johnson wherein he says he wishes to plead no contest to the rock throwing charges.
According to Booker, Johnson's lawyer in his sexual assault case was aware of his comments and says it was all Johnson's own doing.
Johnson has a different attorney for the rock-throwing charges.
Booker says that Johnson's confession during the sex assault sentencing has no legal impact due to the cases being separate. Johnson will still have to work with his current attorney to enter a guilty plea for the rock throwing charges.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
