Jury Reaches Verdict In Fatal Shooting At Courtyard By Marriott

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Roy Johnson, who was accused of shooting and killing the father of a Marist College student visiting during a parents' weekend, was found guilty of murder Friday by a jury.

Dutchess County Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew A. Weishaupt said that Johnson was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Paul Kutz, 53, of East Northport, Suffolk County, that happened at the Courtyard by Marriott in the town of Poughkeepsie Oct. 2.

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

He was also convicted of three counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Johnson was acquitted of an attempted murder charge related to a worker in the Bistro area of the hotel lobby.

The trial took two weeks, and the jury deliberated for about a day and a half before reaching a verdict.

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

Johnson was sent to the Dutchess County Jail without bail to await sentencing June 26.

He faces 40 years to life in prison on the charges.

Weishaupt said that the facts of the case speak for themselves and the district attorney’s office will recommend the maximum penalty allowed by law.

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