Williamsville Man Sentenced for Making Threats Toward Courthouses, Witness

Johnathan J. Rzoska

Johnathan J. Rzoska, 41, of Williamsville was sentenced before Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes to 3 years in prison followed by 3 years of post release supervision.

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 previously 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 morning, 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.

On November 13, 2023, Rzoska pleaded guilty 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.

Final orders of protection were issued for the victim and a witness, which remain in effect for the next 5 years.