Courtyard By Marriott Killer Receives Sentence

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Roy A. Johnson Jr. who was found guilty in May of shooting and killing the father of a Marist College student visiting during a parents’ weekend, could likely spend the rest of his life in prison.

Dutchess County Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew A. Weishaupt announced Monday that Johnson was sentenced to 58-1/2 years to life for the murder of Paul Kutz, 53, of East Northport Suffolk County.

The fatal shooting happened Oct. 2 at the Courtyard by Marriott in the town of Poughkeepsie.

Kutz was attending a family weekend celebration at Marist, where one of his sons was going to school.

A jury convicted Johnson May 12 of the charges. He was acquitted of an attempted murder charge related to a worker in the Bistro area of the hotel lobby.

Dutchess County Court Judge Edward T. McLoughlin sentenced Johnson to 25 years to life for second-degree murder, 15 years plus five years post-release supervision for two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, three-and-a-half years to seven years for third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and three-and-a-half years to seven years for first-degree reckless endangerment.

The sentences will run consecutively for a total of 58-1/2 years to life, the district attorney's office said.

Johnston was also sentenced to 15 years in prison plus five years post-release supervision on an additional count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which must run concurrently under the facts of the case, Weishaupt said.

“The Kutz family has been devastated in a way that we cannot comprehend nor change,” he said, “but we hope this sentence will in some small way provide the family with the ability to move forward.”

Weishaupt said that, due to the egregious facts of the case, as well as the immeasurable loss and trauma inflicted on the victims, his office recommended the maximum penalty allowable under the law.

“We are extremely pleased that Judge McLouglin sentenced the defendant in accordance with our recommendation,” he said.

Johnson still faces felony murder and robbery charges in the Aug. 9 killing of Darren Villani in the city of Poughkeepsie.