PALM BAY, Fla.,None — Thursday, a jury heard a Palm Bay man tell police why he jumped into a fight with a teen who he repeatedly punched and kicked.
Gary Johnson, 35, is on trial for child abuse and battery. Investigators said Johnson agreed to watch over a fight between his son and another teen, but video shows Johnson jumped in and knocked out a 16-year-old.
Johnson told police he didn't remember hitting or kicking the teen at first.
He said because the teenager had a tattoo, he thought he was 18 or 19 and adult. He would be in less trouble if he was an adult. The video was the last thing the prosecution presented.
"The officer told me that there's video, that the kids had their cellphones and stuff and they, what he said he saw on the video is not how I recall it," Johnson said.
Jurors finally got to hear from Johnson when prosecutors played a police interrogation video.
The emergency room tech was still in his scrubs when he was arrested for child abuse after police saw the video of him beating and kicking teen Christopher Mace.
Johnson said he agreed to monitor a street fight between his son Justin and Mace because that's the way he was raised.
"That's how I looked at it, was you know, you knuckled up, you dealt with it. When it was done you shook hands," Johnson said.
He said he only intervened to protect his son, which is what defense attorneys seized upon when the victim was called to the stand.
Defense attorney: "But you were going toward him. You were going to resume the fight."
Mace: "Well, yes. "
Defense attorney: And you would agree that that is when Mr. Gary Johnson intervened and stopped you?"
Mace: "Yes sir."
But when Johnson was asked why the last brutal kick to Mace's head, Johnson said he thought other teenagers were about to join in the fight.
"My intention there was to just one less person coming at me," Johnson said.
The jury was sent home for the night. Closing arguments are set for Friday morning.
WFTV
