Bryan sentenced to 40 years in prison for assaulting a police officer in 2018.

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – A Bryan man was found guilty and sentenced to spend the next 40 years in prison for aggravated assault on a public servant in 2018.

While conducting a welfare check on a man in the roadway on Thursday, September 18, 2018, a Bryan Police Department (BPD) officer found a man identified as Earnest Johnson in front of the LaSalle Hotel. According to a news release from the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office, an officer reported seeing Johnson with drug paraphernalia.

As the officer approached him, Johnson ran away before tripping and falling. When he got up, he began attacking the officer, Bryan’s witness testified last week. This witness and another witness held Johnson back from the officer until backup arrived.

“Ultimately, it took more than five officers to arrest Johnson,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office wrote.

In the scuffle, Johnson dislocated the officer’s shoulder to the point that he required surgery and was off work for six months.

The U.S. attorney’s office said Johnson waived his right to a jury trial. Instead, his case was heard only by Judge John Brick of the 272nd District Court. Johnson testified in his own defense and denied breaking the law.

He was found guilty on August 27, 2024, and his sentencing hearing took place on November 21. The state said Johnson had been in prison three times previously for convictions of burglary, intent to commit sexual assault and failure to comply with sex offender registry orders. These three sentences guarantee that Johnson will have to spend at least 25 years in prison.

Johnson was ultimately sentenced to 40 years in prison for aggravated assault on a public official.