Jury Finds James Johnson Guilty

James Dewayne Johnson was found guilty by a Jasper County jury last week and sentenced to serve 20 years plus probation.

Mr. Johnson, represented by Frank Ford of Putnam Co., was convicted of possession of methamphetamine, theft by receiving stolen property, and possession of methamphetatime with intent to distribute. He was also fined $7,607.

Steven Richard Quillen, represented by Timothy Lam, charged with aggravated stalking was also scheduled for trial, but opted out at the last moment and pled guilty to a lesser charge of violation of family violence order. Mr. Quillan was sentenced 12 months to serve concurrent with all other sentences.

The above two cases were the only ones for which juries were selected to accommodate the Jasper County Superior Court Criminal Trial Calendar, which included an uncommonly large case load.

Thirty-one guilty pleas were taken, 24 bench warrants were issued for no-shows, 26 cases were granted continuances, eight cases were Dead Docketed (charges not dismissed but not prosecuted), and 12 cases were Nolle Prossed (charges will not be prosecuted).