Crystal River man sentenced to three life sentennces in prison - one for each of his three victims
Wilson's musghot courtesy of CCSO.
Citrus County, Florida - On Monday, October 28, 2022, 42 year-old Johnny Travis Wilson of Crystal River, Florida was sentenced to three life sentences in prison by the Hororable Richard A. Howard, State of Florida Fifth Judicial Circuit Court Judge, for his actions on November 19, 2019.
Wilson's trial began in August 2022. He plead guilty and was sentenced to the maximum punishment of life in prison, one life sentence for each of his three victims.
"Criminals with records as long and as severely dangerous as Wilson's deserve to be punished by the maximum extent of the law," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "Both detectives and an innocent bystander nearly lost their lives that evening as a direct result of Wilson's reckless actions."
In November 2019, when Wilson was stopped for a minor traffic violation, he attempted to flee from Citrus County Sheriff's Office deputies. During this incident, Wilson intentionally rammed a patrol car and then struck a detective, seriously injuring him in his attempt to exit the parking lot. The detective and his partner fired their duty weapons, striking Wilson in the head, which resulted in a non-life-threating injury to Wilson.
While Wilson continued to flee from deputies, he struck a motorcyclist near the Sunoco gas station off W. Gulf-to-Lake Highway in Crystal River, causing significant injuries to the motorcyclist. After Wilson fled from the scene of this crash on foot, deputies quickly located him and placed him under arrest at the home of a family member of Wilson. When deputies searched the area where Wilson fled, they found approximately 3.54 grams of cocaine.
Wilson was charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, two counts of fleeing and eluding causing property damage, fleeing and eluding causing serious bodily injury, resisting arrest with violence, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting an officer without violence.
Remember, If you SEE something, SAY something! The CCSO non-emergency line is staffed 24/7 and can be reached at 352-249-2790. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call Citrus County Crimes Stoppers at 1-888-ANY-TIPS.