EUGENE, Ore. – A man who attempted to steal an occupied vehicle from a south Lane County rest area parking lot in 2022 has been found guilty of kidnapping and other charges, according to the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.
Donald Wayne Johnson was convicted following a one-day bench trial on Wednesday. He was found guilty of second-degree kidnapping, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and fourth-degree assault. The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred at the Gettings Creek Rest Area near Saginaw on September 20, 2022.
The event unfolded when a couple, traveling from California to the University of Oregon to move their daughter into a dormitory, stopped at the rest area. The husband left the car with the keys in the ignition while his wife remained in the passenger seat, asleep. As the husband went to use the restroom, Johnson entered the vehicle, started the engine, and attempted to drive off.
As Johnson made his move, the wife woke up and tried to stop him by grabbing the steering wheel. During the struggle, Johnson elbowed the woman, who then screamed for help by lowering the window. Her cries alerted her husband and a bystander, who quickly ran toward the car. In a dramatic turn of events, the husband managed to catch up to the moving vehicle, diving through the passenger-side window and placing Johnson in a chokehold.
Johnson continued driving for approximately 300 feet before coming to a halt. At that point, he fled the scene on foot, but was quickly apprehended by Oregon State Police troopers not far from the rest area.
The district attorney’s office confirmed that Johnson was on probation at the time of the incident, having been previously convicted in Benton County on charges that included aggravated harassment, first-degree criminal mischief, and driving under the influence of intoxicants.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4.
This case serves as a reminder of the risks involved in leaving a vehicle unattended, even for short periods, and the lengths some individuals may go to commit crimes. The quick response from the husband and bystander ultimately prevented a more severe outcome in this tense situation.
