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Felon is carried from court after sentencing
By COLLEEN JENKINS, Times Staff Writer
INVERNESS -- Three deputies had to carry a convicted man out of the courtroom Wednesday after he became emotionally distraught and appeared to faint, according to several witnesses. A 15-year prison sentence prompted Ulysee Johnson Jr.'s dramatic exit. The sentence, which Circuit Judge Ric A. Howard ordered, was the maximum penalty under Florida statutes for a felon caught possessing a firearm. A jury found Johnson, 41, of Beverly Hills guilty Wednesday of carrying a firearm during a dispute that had occurred two years ago. On Oct. 26, 2001, Johnson got into an argument with a man and a woman outside the Annie Johnson Senior Citizen Center in South Dunnellon. According to his arrest report, Johnson and Jack Mobley had argued earlier in the day over "lies that (Johnson) had allegedly been spreading" about Ila Norene Williams. Their quarrel later escalated outside the community center, where Johnson pulled a .38-caliber handgun from his pants. He pointed the gun at Mobley and Williams and said to each, "I'll kill you," the report stated. A Dunnellon police officer found a small gun case, box of ammunition and trigger lock in Johnson's car after his arrest. The gun was located behind a house near the center. Johnson also was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. However, prosecutors agreed to try those charges separately. Yet after the jury returned a guilty verdict Wednesday, Johnson pleaded no contest to the assault charges, said Cliff Travis, his attorney. Johnson has a lengthy criminal history, which includes eight felonies, state records showed. The past charges in Florida date back to 1980 and include fleeing from a police officer, possessing marijuana and cocaine, shoplifting, home burglary, aggravated battery against a police officer and dealing in stolen property. Travis said Assistant State Attorney Milam "Bo" Samargya sought no more than 10 years of prison for the weapon charge, but Howard assigned the highest sentence. Samargya could not be reached Thursday afternoon. The judge also gave Johnson five-year sentences for the aggravated assault charges. He allowed those sentences to be served concurrently with the 15-year prison term. The ruling frazzled Johnson's family members, who broke down into tears when they heard it, Travis said. Johnson cried as a deputy registered his fingerprints and then fell to the ground. The deputies carried him out. On Thursday, Travis said he had not yet discussed an appeal with his client. They have 30 days to decide, and the attorney said he wanted to let emotions subside first. "It's really kind of early for that," he said. "I'd rather take several days to settle down and discuss it with him."
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