By Deana Medina
A victim of domestic assault presented her testimony to the court during a preliminary hearing, along with that of two police officers dispatched to the altercations in question.
“Johnson,” represented by Deputy DA Kyle Hasapes, outlined two instances in which she claims she experienced domestic abuse.
On May 5, 2018, Johnson contacted the Woodland Police Department due to an incident which started about a cell phone.
Her boyfriend at the time, James Patrick Vorhees, locked his phone with a passcode despite the two agreeing they would not lock their phones.
Johnson became angry due to how in the past Vorhees placed a passcode on his phone when he was either cheating on Johnson or doing drugs with his friends.
Johnson testified she first approached him and did not ask for the passcode directly, but instead asked that Vorhees unlock the phone himself. Johnson told Vorhees that if he did not comply, she would throw his phone. She said she felt unhappy with the situation but had attempted to remain calm. Vorhees refused to enter his passcode, resulting in Johnson turning around and throwing the phone at a 
closet door.
The phone screen broke upon impact and Johnson offered to purchase a new phone for Vorhees, but Johnson said, “He would rather get violent.”
Allegedly, Vorhees pulled Johnson down on the bed, grabbing her shoulder. Johnson lay face down on the bed, with Vorhees holding her down with his hands around her neck.
Johnson said her boyfriend choked her, but “I could still breathe, yes, there was pressure.”
Vorhees also smacked Johnson on her face, ultimately throwing multiple items at Johnson that she dodged on her way out of the bedroom.
The Woodland Police Department received a call on June 1, 2018, again regarding a domestic dispute between the engaged couple.
Johnson detailed in her testimony how the two of them were on their way back home from the California Honey Festival in Woodland when another argument occurred.
Vorhees expressed a desire to purchase weed from a friend but Johnson told him she would not allow him to do so, claiming Vorhees was already high, which resulted in her telling him to get out of the car. He then walked back to their home while Johnson drove back.
Hasapes probed into why Johnson was quick to kick Vorhees out of the car.
Johnson said she noticed the aggravation he tends to show before he commits violent acts. “His face changes, his expression. He gets very cold and, kind of, almost numb towards people.”
The argument continued at the house when Vorhees arrived.
Johnson asked her roommate, “JB,” to hover around because she believed the situation would escalate.
Vorhees again asked to go buy weed, requiring the car keys to do so. Johnson once again refused, claiming he was already high and also that Vorhees’ license was suspended.
He became angry, telling Johnson if she did not obey him, he would make things worse. Verbally threatening physical harm, Vorhees made Johnson feel unsafe, so she went to a different part of the house.
Vorhees then supposedly grabbed some water and threw it on Johnson’s face and laptop, as he knew she has a phobia of water on her face. Attempts of throwing trash cans at Johnson were also made.
He then kicked several dents into their car. “He said he wanted to make the car unusable so I can’t run away,” said Johnson.
Once back inside, Vorhees put both his hands around Johnson’s neck to the point where she could not breathe for what she approximated was about 15 to 30 seconds.
Johnson said Vorhees stared directly at her as he choked her, saying, “I’m gonna make it worse. If you fight it I’m gonna make it worse.”
Johnson said she did not know whether she had any bruising on her neck, but Officer Greg Ford took pictures of Johnson.
Richard Lansburg cross-examined Johnson for the defense.
Lansburg attempted to discredit Johnson’s testimony and asked her just how long she had been dating Vorhees. Johnson stated five months, but Lansburg countered that the time period was in years rather than months, and that is what she told Officer Ford on June 1, 2018. She denied it immediately, but Officer Ford later said in his testimony Johnson told him she had known Vorhees for years, rather than their meeting on December 31, 2017.
The defense then focused on the alleged choking done by Vorhees. In both incidents there was never any bruising caused by strangulation, as shown by the photos taken by officers on the scene. This led to Lansburg insinuating that it did not happen, due to Johnson being fair-skinned – which would cause bruising to appear more prominently.
Officer Ford took the stand once the court dismissed Johnson. A sworn peace officer of 15 years for Woodland, they dispatched Ford to the home of Johnson and Vorhees to settle the domestic dispute.
Ford relayed the interactions following his arrival at their home. Vorhees answered the door, nearly pushing his body past Ford’s, as he wanted out of his house. “He did not want me in his house whatsoever,” said Ford.
Ford noted his red and irritated face, causing him to be concerned about the situation.
This was not the first meeting between Ford and Vorhees. Ford recalled a time at their residence with an Officer Laos when Vorhees was hard to control, remembering how Vorhees didn’t let them get a word in and didn’t like to comply with commands. They spoke to Vorhees, telling him his voice would be heard and he would have a chance to tell his story, which typically calms people down, but it did not work with him. During the June 1, 2018, incident, another officer had to take out his Taser in order to calm Vorhees down.
Ford then explained the photos he took of Johnson, including her neck, upper arm and bicep, the top of her head and the back of her right heel. Johnson’s neck and throat were particularly red, Ford noted. Along with Johnson continually touching, grabbing, and clearing her throat, Ford felt concerned and inclined to believe the choking accusation against Vorhees.
Upon examination of Vorhees, Ford saw no injuries except for blood on the top of his right hand – but he did not see any open wounds on him, leading to him believe it was not Vorhees’ own blood.
Ford also spoke with Johnson’s friend and roommate, JB. JB told Ford he saw the couple arguing about keys and stepped outside, later going for a walk when he saw the argument move outside. Upon returning, JB saw lots of debris and trash scattered around, along with hearing yelling from inside.
The defense cross-examined Officer Ford, once again focusing on the lack of bruising. Referencing the photos taken, Mr. Lansburg questioned Ford about whether the marks he saw were consistent with the 15 to 30 seconds of choking that Johnson said, but Ford claimed he was told five to ten seconds. Ford then said there does not always have to be handprints or fingerprints to prove choking, but he did say, due to Johnson’s fairer skin, any signs should be more visible than usual.
The People rested, with the defense then calling in Officer Alvaro Reynoso. An officer of one year, he took a statement from Johnson following the June 1, 2018, incident, during which he learned that Johnson tried to use Vorhees’ phone to arrange a pick up for concert tickets, but found it was locked with a passcode, leading to the resulting argument.
Like Ford, Reynoso observed a “slight redness, but no marks.” Later, he spoke with Vorhees who denied everything and claimed he was asleep. Mr. Hasapes continued his cross-examination, asking about Vorhees’ demeanor. To Reynoso, Vorhees appeared angry and upset, to the point where, despite having another officer backing him up, he detained Vorhees, as the defendant’s anger level did not subside even after detainment.
After hearing testimony, Judge Stephen L. Mock decided to dismiss Count 5, vandalism, due to Vorhees having part ownership of the vehicle he dented. The other four counts – corporal injury, two assaults by force and a battery – remain as charged, despite Lansburg attempting to argue there should not be any felony charge due to insufficient evidence.
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