Judge sentences stalker to prison in Atascadero

ATASCADERO, Calif. -- San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced the sentencing of an Atascadero stalker on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Josiah James Johnstone, 35, of Atascadero was sentenced to four years and eight months in state prison for making criminal threats and stalking two women he had previously dated.

These crimes took place between February and September 2017.

Johnstone pleaded guilty to the charges in May 2019 but fled the state before being sentenced.

He was extradited back to San Luis Obispo County in September 2019.

The victims provided statements at sentencing and noted that they were merely two of a much larger group of women who had been harassed by the defendants over the years.

Several other women who have been targeted by Johnstone were present in court and stood in solidarity with the named victims.

The prosecuting Deputy District Attorney gave the following statement:

“There is finally some semblance of closure for the victims in this case. These women have displayed immeasurable bravery over the past two years, while patiently waiting for the justice system to run its course.  We wish them the best, and I hope that they are able to finally sleep soundly, without fear that the defendant will show up at their doorstep at any moment.”

Deputy District Attorney Nikhil Dandekar

The Atascadero Police Department with assistance from the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.

San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Hernaldo Baltodano imposed the sentence.