INDReporter

Ex-ADA Johnson wants extension on sentencing

by Leslie Turk

Lafayette attorney Valerie Garrett has asked U.S. District Court Judge Richard Haik for more time to file objections in the sentencing of former state prosecutor J. Floyd Johnson. Lafayette attorney Valerie Garrett has asked U.S. District Court Judge Richard Haik for more time to file objections in the sentencing of former state prosecutor J. Floyd Johnson.

On Nov. 10 Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion, also acknowledging that he concealed ownership of a home and lied to federal investigators about it. Johnson, 50, entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik in Lafayette. In July 2010, while still a prosecutor with 15th Judicial District Attorney Mike Harson's office, he was charged in a bill of information with the single count of tax evasion and resigned from the DA's office shortly thereafter. Johnson had been with the DA's office for 15 years.

At sentencing, Johnson faces up to five years in prison, a $100,000 fine, and a mandatory minimum term of not less than two years and not more than three years supervised release following confinement. A presentence report has been completed by the U.S. Probation Office, a prerequisite to sentencing. As part of that presentence investigation, the government turned over all evidence developed in its probe of Johnson.

On Thursday, Jan. 27, Garrett asked the federal court for a 30-day extension to file objections to the presentence report because she is in the process of relocating her office and has not had sufficient time to discuss the objections with all defense counsel. Johnson is also represented by Valex Amos, Garrett's former law partner; Harold Register and Clyde Simien, according to court documents. A message left Monday morning at Garrett's new office in the Gordon Square building on E. Vermilion Street was not immediately returned.

Personnel in Haik's office could not be reached for comment early Monday on the status of the extension request.

Read more about the disgraced former prosecutor here.