Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 40-year-old Johnathan J. Rzoska of Williamsville was arraigned morning before Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes on an indictment charging him with two counts of Making a Terroristic Threat (Class “D” felonies), one count of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, one count of Tampering with a Witness in the Third Degree (Class “E” felonies) and one count of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor).
It is alleged that on the morning of Friday, December 16, 2022, the victim reported to the Amherst Police Department that he had received a threatening text message from the defendant, which placed him in reasonable fear. The defendant allegedly sent the text message to the victim while knowingly in violation of an existing order of protection. The defendant, who was scheduled to appear in court that morning, was taken into custody after he entered the parking lot of the Williamsville Village Court building.
It is further alleged that the same day, at approximately 8:25 a.m., Central Police Services received a phone call from the defendant who threatened to “blow up” the Erie County Court building and the Williamsville Village Court building. The defendant’s alleged actions resulted in both buildings being evacuated and searched by police.
The defendant is also accused of sending a threatening text message to the victim on September 6, 2022, which placed the victim in reasonable fear. After the alleged incident, a temporary order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim and his family.
Rzoska is scheduled to return on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. for a pre-trial conference. He continues to be held without bail.
The defendant also has another pending criminal matter involving the same victim. Rzoska was arraigned before Williamsville Village Court Justice Jeffrey Voekl on one count of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor) and one count of Harassment in the Second Degree (violation) on October 14, 2022.
It is alleged that on August 30, 2022, at approximately 7:30 a.m., the defendant ran toward the victim while making threats. The alleged incident occurred outside of the defendant’s residence on Cadman Drive in the Village of Williamsville.
Rzoska is scheduled to return to Williamsville Village Court for further proceedings on Friday, March 10, 2023.
DA Flynn commends the Amherst Police Department for their work in these investigations as well as the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and NFTA Police K9 Units.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nicholas C. Bussi of the Felony Trials Bureau.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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