When I got elected in 2018, I inherited an office with no workable organization system for files, scant victim contact information, many cases completely lacking discovery, hundreds of cases waiting for grand jury presentation, and a backlog of child-sex cases dating back ten years. Amid the chaos, I found left behind desperate victims who had lost hope, along with child sex predators facing no consequences.
All of those issues have been addressed, while my Office successfully prosecuted more cases, including: stalking, sodomy, rape, murder, attempted murder, assault, sexual abuse of a victim under 12, burglary, theft and many more crimes. I secured a jury verdict of six consecutive life sentences in a rape trial – the biggest verdict our circuit has seen. During this time, and because of my success at trial, I also successfully mediated many cases, including a 45-year sentence for a 56-year-old defendant.
Over 350 cases lingered in the system waiting to be indicted, and stacks of child sex abuse cases having been ignored, leaving victims voiceless and re-victimized, and allowing perpetrators to evade accountability. Justice delayed is justice denied, and I refused to let that stand.
Shortly after assuming office, MUSE JOHNSON coordinated with then Georgetown Police Chief Mike Bosse to locate victims in cases where no/scant contact information existed, no evidence was present in the files, and significant time had elapsed. MUSE JOHNSON diligently collaborates with law enforcement to ensure justice is secured.
One specific example involved a 5-year-old victim's case that never made it past the grand jury before MUSE JOHNSON took office. Muse Johnson took the case to trial and got the MAXIMUM allowed by law for this young victim. Five years later, the victim, now a survivor, has prospered and remains close to Muse Johnson, who continues to be a part of this young girl's life.
MUSE JOHNSON requested $35,000 of her personal pay be redirected to her office budget: Despite being understaffed, Muse Johnson achieved record trial results and mediated agreements. She requested the state to allocate $35,000 of her salary to bolster the office budget*. Additionally, in her first year in office, she personally invested over $12,000 in the office. MUSE JOHNSON recognizes that standing in the gap to fight for justice is a privilege that demands personal sacrifice to achieve the results she consistently delivers.
*see letter below
In 2019, shortly after assuming office, Muse Johnson made a formal request to the Prosecutors Advisory Council to redirect $35,000 from her own salary towards funding an additional prosecutor for her office. Muse Johnson had two prosecutors, including Rob Johnson, working alongside her and requested an additional prosecutor to help with the backlog. The request was denied.
"Also, Can I request a special prosecutor to come in and help with old sex cases? Every week we are finding child sex crimes that are up to 10 years old. Never tried. Some of them have had nothing done at all."
On Feb 23, 2019 Muse Johnson alerted PAC to the child sex abuse cases that had been ignored until she took office and asked for help resolving them. Help was denied but Muse Johnson took the time to work every single case.
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"We as a family will be eternally grateful for the way that she prosecuted the case"