West Bend, WI – A Washington County jury has convicted Willie B. Johnson of multiple felonies after prosecutors said he brutally assaulted and imprisoned a woman for several days inside a Barton home in December 2022.
According to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, the jury on October 30, 2025, found Johnson guilty of Mayhem with a Dangerous Weapon, Aggravated Battery, False Imprisonment, Strangulation and Suffocation, Battery, and Criminal Damage to Property. All charges carried domestic violence and repeat offender enhancers.
Prosecutors said the crimes occurred between December 18 and 21, 2022, when Johnson allegedly tied the victim’s hands and feet with a power cord, burned her with a hot knife and stove grate, strangled her with a cord, and stabbed and beat her before preventing her from leaving the residence.
District Attorney Barry J. Braatz called the verdict “a testament to the victim’s courage and the diligent work of law enforcement.” The case was investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, with support from the Milwaukee Police Department and FBI.
Johnson faces more than 70 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for January 23, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Michael S. Kenitz.
Anyone experiencing domestic violence can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or FRIENDS, Inc. in Washington County at 262-334-7298 for confidential help.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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