Ex-Brunswick DA misconduct in Ahmaud Arbery death investigation booked into jail

3 years ago 253

BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Jackie Johnson, who was territory lawyer for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit for 10 years, turned herself successful astatine the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office aboriginal Wednesday morning. Bond was acceptable astatine $10,000, but she was released connected her ain recognizance.

Johnson, 49, who was powerfully criticized implicit the mode she handled the Ahmaud Arbery case, was indicted past week by the Glynn County expansive assemblage connected charges of usurpation of oath of nationalist serviceman and obstruction of a constabulary officer. The charges related to the probe surrounding the deadly shooting of Arbery.

Specifically, the indictment (in afloat astatine extremity of the article) accuses Johnson successful February 2020 of violating her oath arsenic territory lawyer “by showing favour and affection to Greg McMichael during the investigation...” Greg McMichael had erstwhile worked arsenic an researcher for Johnson’s office.

Attorney General Chris Carr announced the indictment connected Thursday. If convicted, the usurpation of oath of a nationalist serviceman is simply a felony complaint that carries a condemnation of 1 to 5 years. The obstruction and hindering a instrumentality enforcement serviceman complaint is simply a misdemeanor that carries up to 12 months.

“Our bureau is committed to ensuring those who are entrusted to service are carrying retired their duties ethically and honestly,” Carr said successful a prepared statement. “While an indictment was returned today, our record is not closed, and we volition proceed to analyse successful bid to prosecute justice.”

Gregory and Travis McMichael, a begetter and son, and their neighbour William “Roddie” Bryan Jr. are awaiting proceedings this autumn for chasing and sidesplitting 25-year-old Arbery past twelvemonth arsenic helium ran successful their vicinity extracurricular coastal Brunswick. Jury enactment is scheduled to commencement Oct. 18.

“When I received the news, I was astatine work,” said Thea Brooks, Arbery’s aunt. “I was precise overjoyed due to the fact that this is simply a measurement person to justness for Ahmaud. It’s not a conviction, but an indictment is going successful the close direction.”

Johnson besides failed “to dainty Ahmaud Arbery and his household reasonably and with dignity,” the indictment states. It alleges that aft Arbery’s death, Johnson sought the assistance of Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Barnhill and, aft disqualifying her for office, recommended Barnhill to the Attorney General’s Office for assignment arsenic the lawsuit authoritative without disclosing that she had antecedently sought Barnhill’s assistance connected the case.

“I conscionable knew thing wasn’t close with that due to the fact that they should person been arrested,” said Arbery’s aunt, Carla. “Because if idiosyncratic else, they would person been arrested the aforesaid day, and determination would person already been a tribunal proceeding and everything for them. But it ever worked retired connected time, and I conscionable convey God that she has been indicted.”

IAttorneys Ben Crump, Lee Merritt arsenic good arsenic Arbery’s parents are readying to clasp a virtual quality league Friday.

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