Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 41-year-old Johnathan J. Rzoska of Williamsville pleaded guilty this morning to 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). The defendant pleaded guilty to all counts in the indictment against him as jury selection was scheduled to begin in his trial.
On the morning of Friday, December 16, 2022, the victim called the Amherst Police Department to report that he had received a threatening text message from Rzoska, which placed him in reasonable fear. The defendant sent the text message to the victim while knowingly in violation of an existing order of protection. The defendant sent a threatening text message to the victim on September 6, 2022, which placed the victim in reasonable fear. After the incident, a temporary order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim and his family.
The same day, at approximately 8:25 a.m., Erie County 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 actions resulted in both buildings being evacuated and searched by police.
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.
Rzoska faces a maximum of 7 years in prison when he is sentenced before Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. He continues to be held without bail.
DA Flynn commends Detectives John Rusch, Richard Phillips, Julian Chinana of the Amherst Police Department, ECSO Investigator Dennis Orlowski, Erie County Sheriff’s Office and NFTA Police K9 Units for their work in these investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Nicholas C. Bussi and Nicholas Marino of the Felony Trials Bureau.