Guilty verdict in ’08 South Tahoe kidnapping, torture case

It took an El Dorado County Superior Court jury about a day to convict Joshua Barber of kidnapping, infliction of torture, aggravated assault and terrorist threats.

Co-defendant Amanda Johnson entered a plea agreement to which she was sentenced to 11 years in state prison in return for truthful testimony against Barber.

The two were involved in a prostitution business when on Nov. 22, 2008, they attacked and severely beat a South Lake Tahoe woman. The incident started in the parking lot of a South Tahoe motel, which several people witnessed.

They forced the victim into a vehicle, while continuing to beat her and threatening to kill her. They took her to the Camp Richardson area, where she was stripped of most of her clothing and left in the snow.

The victim heard traffic, was able to move toward the sound and was found by a Caltrans snowplow driver. He called for assistance.

Barber will be sentenced at the South Lake Tahoe courthouse on July 23. He faces life in prison for the torture conviction as well a number of years in prison for the other counts, including a special finding that he inflicted great bodily injury.