Jury Convicts Man in 1988 Ambush Slaying

A San Fernando Superior Court jury convicted a Sylmar resident of first-degree murder Wednesday for the ambush-killing of a man who was lured to a remote area with promises of a drug deal, then shot to death.

Scott William Johnson, 21, was also convicted of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced next month, Deputy Dist. Atty. Kenneth Barshop said.

Johnson organized the robbery and death of John Gerald Johnston, 20, of Granada Hills, who was found dead at the side of a fire road near Sesnon Boulevard and Louise Avenue on May 17, 1988, Barshop said. Johnston had gone to the area with $17,000 in cash after Johnson and co-defendants Ron Noah Morton, 23, and Devin Taylor Otte, 21, both of Granada Hills, promised to sell him three kilos of cocaine, police said. “There were no drugs,” Barshop said. “They assassinated him and took his money.”

Otte, who was a friend of Johnston, drove him to a remote, hilly section of Granada Hills where Johnson was parked in a sports car posing as a drug dealer, police said. When they arrived, Morton opened fire on Johnston, hitting him at least nine times with an Uzi.

Otte and Morton, who are stepbrothers, pleaded guilty last year and testified against Johnson, Barshop said. Last week they were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.