former Peekskill City Court Judge Reginald Johnson
“How many Judges have done the same things Judge Johnson did? Is this a Halloween Witch Hunt Against Judge Johnson and Councilman Fernandez? What about the others involved? What is their
-Laura Morales, Peekskill
punishment? “
By Dan Murphy
City of Peekskill Judge Reginald Johnson resigned his position on September 30 after a scathing report from the NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct found that Johnson had dismissed tickets and violations for a number of friends and powerful people in Westchester politics, the courts and the public schools.
The detailed complaint against Johnson text messages, testimony and dismissals of cases by Judge Johnson without advising the prosecutor or the police officer who wrote the tickets. The actions occurred between 2018-2022.
One charge has been picked up by the local media and the Peekskill City Council. It involves Mateo Piragua who was charged with driving without a license and driving while on his cell phone. The complaint reads, “Mr. Piragua is a family friend of Ramon Fernandez, a Peekskill City Council member. In or about June and July 2018, Mr. Fernandez met with and spoke to Respondent about Mr. Piragua’s VTL tickets, expressing his view that the tickets were unjust and that Mr. Piragua was a good person. Mr. Fernandez understood from the Respondent’s response that the tickets would be dismissed. On or about July 27, 2018, Respondent dismissed the tickets in People v Piragua, in chambers, off the record, outside the presence of the parties, without notice to or the consent of either the Peekskill City Prosecutor, Ingrid O’Sullivan, or the Peekskill City Police Department, which had issued the tickets.”
After the facts about Judge Johnson became public, the Peekskill City Council passed a resolution calling for Councilman Fernandez to step down. But Fernandez refuses to resign.
Other noteworthy officials were also named in the Johnson complaint. They include:
I-Peekskill Schools Superintendent Dr. David Mauricio. “On or about January 31, 2019, Dr. David Mauricio was charged with violating the VTL, for allegedly traveling at 55 MPH in a 45 MPH zone. A copy of court records pertaining to the ticket is annexed as Exhibit 2. Dr. Mauricio is the Superintendent of the Peekskill City School District and an active member of the local community. Respondent’s wife, Pamela Hallman-Johnson, serves on the Board of Education of the Peekskill City School District.
“In or about January or February 2020, while Respondent, his wife and Dr. Mauricio were attending a community event, Dr. Mauricio privately asked Respondent to look into his traffic ticket and shared some purportedly mitigating circumstances. Respondent told Dr. Mauricio he would look into it. On or about February 6, 2020, Respondent dismissed Dr. Mauricio’s ticket, in chambers, off the record, outside the presence of the parties, without notice to or the consent of either the Peekskill City Prosecutor, Ingrid O’Sullivan, or the State Police Officer who had issued the ticket. On or about February 6, 2020, Ms. Hallman-Johnson texted Dr. Mauricio to thank him for attending her brother’s funeral and to advise, “My husband took care of that issue today.” Dr. Mauricio responded, “Tell your husband I said a big thank you.”
II-Zwana Loehr, daughter of Judge Melilssa Loehr. “On or about August 1, 2016, Zwana Loehr was charged with violating the VTL, for allegedly failing to stop at a stop sign. On or about September 2, 2016, Ms. Loehr was again charged with violating the VTL, for allegedly operating a motor vehicle without adequate lights. A copy of court records pertaining to the tickets is annexed as Exhibit 3. Zwana Loehr is the daughter of Judge Melissa A. Loehr, who at the time was a co-judge of Respondent’s at Peekskill City Court. Zwana Loehr and Respondent’s daughter, Ashley Johnson, were friends, having been classmates during middle and high school, having frequented each other’s houses, and having lived together for a time as young adults in the home of Judge Loehr’s mother.
“On or about March 10, 2017, Respondent presided over People v Zwana Loehr, regarding both VTL cases then pending against the defendant. After Ms. Loehr stated her name for the record, the following exchange between Respondent and Ms. Loehr was placed on the record:
THE COURT: Good afternoon, Zwana. How you doing?
THE WITNESS: Good. How are you?
THE COURT: I’m good. Okay. Dismissed.
THE WITNESS: Oh, wow. Thanks. Have a great day.
THE COURT: Take care.
“Respondent did not make any disclosure on the record about his or his daughter’s relationship with the defendant, or the defendant’s relationship with his co-Judge Melissa A. Loehr. Respondent dismissed both of the pending VTL tickets against the defendant without explanation and without hearing from the Peekskill City Prosecutor, Ingrid O’Sullivan, or any other representative of the People.”
Judge Loehr is now an Associate Supreme Court Judge in the New Rochelle Family Court.
III-Carly Fields: While we do not know of the relationship between Fields and Judge Johnson, her offense was serious. “On or about October 11, 2022, Carly A. Fields was charged with violating the VTL, for allegedly traveling 80 MPH in a 40 MPH zone. The defendant pled not guilty by mail on or about October 14, 2022. On or about October 21, 2022, before the Fields matter had been scheduled for a court appearance, Court Clerk Allison Carter saw the defendant’s court file at her desk, bearing the dismissal code “21” and Respondent’s initials, indicating that Respondent had dismissed the ticket based on a “Statutory Motion to Dismiss in Furtherance of Justice” pursuant to CPL §170.40. Neither the defendant nor the prosecutor had appeared in court or made a motion to dismiss the Fields matter. “
Why were these strange dismissals brought to the attention of the NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct? Perhaps because of the inappropriate remarks, comments and actions made by Judge Johnson to court staff. Those allegations are included in the complaint.
Johnson was accused of making “sexual innuendos and other inappropriate remarks to court staff and attorneys on at least two occasions; On at least one occasion touched or caressed his co-judge’s arm without invitation or permission, and otherwise said offensive things to her; Berated, screamed at, and otherwise treated court staff discourteously; and Engaged in an unauthorized ex parte communication with a government official regarding a pending criminal matter.
Judge Johnson has served as a Judge of the Peekskill City Court since 2014.
Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian made the following statement. “The responsibility to decide cases impartially and on the merits is corrupted whenever a judge fixes traffic cases on behalf of friends or family. The harmony and decorum of the courthouse is undermined whenever a judge mistreats colleagues, attorneys, and court staff. One who repeatedly does all this and more does not belong on the bench.”
Others wondered why Judge Johnson was singled out. Laura Morales writes, “How many Judges have done the same things Judge Johnson did? Is this a Halloween Witch Hunt Against Judge Johnson and Councilman Fernandez? What about the others involved? What is their punishment? “
