Firefighter jailed for kicking teen boy after basketball game

By Cara McCoy

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 | 11:54 a.m.

A Clark County firefighter will spend Christmas behind bars after a judge today sentenced him to 30 days in the county jail on a felony charge for kicking a teenage boy in the head after a pickup basketball game earlier this year.

Johnnie Williams, 45, who has been employed with the Clark County Fire Department since 1999, pleaded guilty in July to attempted battery with substantial bodily harm for kicking 19-year-old Satcha Hooten in the head at a Summerlin gym.

Under the plea agreement, it was up to the discretion of the judge whether to classify the crime as a gross misdemeanor or a felony. Judge Michael Villani today sentenced him to the felony charge.

Williams received a suspended jail sentence of 19 to 48 months. He will serve a fixed term of three years of probation, starting with 30 days in jail as a condition of his probation.

Williams also is required to submit to random drug and alcohol testing, complete impulse control classes and pay $8,767.80 in restitution to the victim. Additionally, he is also forbidden from entering the fitness center where the incident happened and from having contact with the victim or his family.

“I want to apologize to Satcha and his family for the crimes I committed against him … I hope that one day they can forgive me,” Williams told the judge.

Fire department spokesman Scott Allison said Williams had been disciplined by the fire chief after the incident and would face further disciplinary action if sentenced as a felon, but wouldn’t elaborate, citing personnel issues.

According to court documents, after Hooten missed a two-point shot near the end of the game on April 28 at 24 Hour Fitness, 2090 Village Center Circle, Williams and Hooten got into a verbal altercation.

As Hooten sat on the floor with his cell phone, Williams kicked him in head, as confirmed by video played Tuesday in court by prosecutor Richard Scow. Hooten didn’t retaliate.

Scow said Williams tried to mitigate the incident by saying it was an accident – Williams told police he “wanted to kick the wall above his head to teach him a lesson,” Scow said, reading from Williams’ statement to investigators.

“These are not the actions of a firefighter, these are the actions of a street fighter or a thug,” Scow said. He criticized Williams, a trained paramedic, for not rendering aid after kicking Hooten.

In asking for the gross misdemeanor instead of the felony, Williams’ lawyer, Jay Siegel, credited his client for admitting to the crime starting with his first interview with police. He said Williams opted for the deal instead of going to trial because he didn’t want his family or the victim’s family to deal with the issue.

Williams initially was scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 24 but the hearing was continued until today.

Hooten addressed the court last week. He said he is still suffering from injuries caused by the blow.

“There are so many things that I’m upset about over this whole incident,” he said. “I’ve seen Mr. Williams' behavior at the gym on several occasions; he is a loose cannon. People are afraid of him.”

Hooten said the kick left him with five broken bones in his face, balance issues and permanent damage to his jaw.

“I was the one who acted like an adult – Mr. Williams acted like a schoolyard bully,” he said.

Cheryl Hooten, Satcha’s mother, also addressed the court last week, calling Williams “an embarrassment” to his profession.

“Mr. Williams, you need to grow up. You’re a 45-year-old man who bullies people and acts like a thug instead of a professional. You took an oath to help the sick and injured; instead you kicked a young man in the head. You caused severe injury,” she said.

In handing down his sentence, Villani said he didn’t believe Williams was fully accepting responsibility.

“I think a blind man can see you intended to kick … you intended to hit him,” he said.

After the hearing, Scow said the felony was appropriate in this case.

“Firefighters are charged with protecting people, especially young people. Mr. Williams did exactly the opposite and we can’t tolerate that,” he said.

Williams was off duty at the time of the incident. He was taken into custody in the courtroom and will be booked into the Clark County Detention Center.