A judge has handed down a sentence of 120 months in community corrections to former prosecutor Mark Johnson in Dothan, Alabama.
Johnson was found guilty by the jury for leveraging his position at the Houston County District Attorney’s Office to seek sexual favors from defendants, even those he had previously prosecuted.
The Alabama Attorney General’s Office requested Circuit Judge Burt Smithart to impose a sentence of fifteen years and one day for Johnson, with four years to be served in prison and five years of supervised probation.
Dustin Fowler, Johnson’s attorney, requested Smithart to consider probation or community corrections instead of a prison sentence for Johnson.
According to Assistant Attorney General Kyle Beckman, he expressed his concerns about the severity of the punishment given to Johnson by stating, “He put a for sale sign on the district attorney’s office. Losing his bar card isn’t enough of a punishment.” Beckman urged Smithhart to consider the recommended sentence by the State for Johnson.
Fowler informed Smithart that Johnson is facing numerous health problems. He highlighted that during his tenure as an assistant district attorney, Johnson dedicated his life to serving the public and played a crucial role in bringing criminals to justice. Fowler emphasized that this issue is not about politics but rather about whether Johnson deserves to be sentenced to prison. According to Fowler, the answer to that question is a resounding “no.”
John Johnson has been sentenced to serve 30 months in community corrections, and will then be placed on probation.
Fowler expressed his disappointment with Johnson not receiving probation after the hearing, but he is glad that community corrections were granted. He mentioned that they intend to appeal the decision.
