Speedy Trial Finds Two Men Guilty for Violent Robbery of High-School Student

A Centre County jury wasted no time finding co-defendants Zachariah Johnson and Joseph Jenkins guilty on six counts of assault and robbery. They were convicted for beating up a high school student at a party in State College and stealing money from his wallet.

The jury reached the guilty verdict on Tuesday, following a one-day trial.

The incident dates back to July 10, 2011. The victim and his attackers all ended up at the same party. When the victim stepped outside both Johnson and Jenkins cornered him behind a dumpster, demanding he give them money to buy beer.

The victim handed over some money, but the pair noticed that he still had more.

Two punches sent the victim to the ground where Jenkins held him down, placing his foot on the victim’s head while Johnson stole $9, an ATM card, and cigarettes.

Prosecutors say the attack resulted in several medical problems for the victim and could have killed him. Witnesses and surveillance video helped corroborate the account he gave to police.

Both attackers are due back in court for sentencing on July 2nd.

“These two men had no business viciously attacking a high school junior for the contents of his wallet and now they can sit in state prison for an extended period while they consider how cowardly it was to gang up two-to-one on a young kid for a couple of dollars,” said district attorney Stacy Parks Miller in a news release.