A longtime aide to former Gov. Paterson has pleaded guilty to shoving an ex-girlfriend during a dispute -- an incident that touched off an evidence-tampering investigation that ultimately helped the governor decide to abandon his bid for another term.
Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson announced Wednesday that David Johnson entered the plea on one count of second-degree harassment.
Johnson admitted he shoved his ex, Sherr-una Booker, "with the intent to harass, annoy or alarm her."
He was given a conditional discharge and ordered not to have contact with Booker under a two-year order of protection.
As part of the deal, Johnson also completed a treatment program. He faces no jail time.
Paterson's involvement after the Oct. 31, 2009 incident -- he made a phone call to Booker before she let the case drop initially by not appearing in court -- caused him serious political damage, even though investigators found no evidence of witness tampering.
At the time, Booker told a family court judge she felt she was also being "harassed" by state police officials.
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Facing other ethics questions about World Series tickets, the Democratic governor soon dropped plans to run for another term.
In Johnson's only interview amid the media storm last year, he told NBC New York last year that he would be "vindicated."
In her only interview, Sherr-una Booker told NBC New York what happened to her was "not OK" and that she stepped forward so Johnson would be "held accountable," and so that other women stand up and are not "treated this way."
She said the entire experience had been very painful. Johnson allegedly threw her into a dresser during the argument.
According to the DA, Booker was consulted and agreed with the resolution of the case.
The state attorney general investigated whether intervention by Paterson and state troopers in the days after the confrontation caused Booker to call off the case. But a report found no criminal activity by anyone, except Johnson.
