CLOWN ACCUSED OF RAPING WOMAN, RETURNING LATER IN MAKEUP AND CUTTING SECURITY CAMERAS

After breaking into a woman’s house and raping her, prosecutors say that a New York man returned to her home two days later, wearing clown makeup and cut her security cameras.

The suspect, Joseph T. Johnson, 33, went on a 72-hour crime spree that also involved breaking car windows and breaking into cars before targeting the woman on Sept. 19. 

“This is an extremely disturbing case...,” Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini wrote on his Facebook page on Feb. 11 in announcing indictments against Johnson. “This is a dangerous individual and a convicted sex offender who is now off our streets thanks to the excellent work of the hardworking women and men of my Office and the Suffolk County Police Department.”

Prosecutors alleged when he raped the victim, he repeatedly strangled her and threatened her life, according to Newsday. 

After the assault, the victim had security cameras installed around the outside of her home. 

When the perpetrator returned on September 21, he turned the cameras away from himself and cut the wires. Before he could do so, however, the cameras caught her in his yard wearing clown makeup. 

Officers recognized him despite his disguise, and he was later tied to the rape through DNA evidence.

If Johnson is convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison for his crimes on Sept. 19 and 15 years for crimes committed days later, according to Newsday.