Mitchell Johnson faces up to 30 years in prison
Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Johnson
BENTONVILLE - Jonesboro school shooter Mitchell Johnson faces up to 30 years in state prison.
Johnson, 23, pleaded guilty Tuesday to theft by receiving, a class C felony; financial identity fraud, a class B felony; and possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance, a class A misdemeanor. He could receive a prison sentence of three to 10 years on the theft charge and five to 20 years for the other felony. The misdemeanor charge is punishable with up to a year in jail.
Johnson pleaded guilty without the benefit of an agreement with prosecutors, so his punishment is in the hands of Circuit Judge Tom Keith, who will decide the length of the sentences and whether they will be served consecutively or concurrently.
Johnson admitted that while working at the Fastrip on South Walton Boulevard in Bentonville, he took a customer's credit card. Johnson said he used the card to purchase gasoline.
A customer, who reported that he accidentally left his credit card at the convenience store, later found it was used to make unauthorized purchases in Bentonville and Fayetteville.
Johnson admitted to being in possession of marijuana when Bentonville police officers arrested him on Feb. 2.
The judge scheduled a sentencing hearing for Johnson for 8: 30 a.m. Nov. 14.
Johnson and Andrew Golden were convicted of five counts of capital murder after they shot and killed a teacher and four students on March 24, 1998, at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro. The two were held at a state juvenile facility until they turned 18. They were then held at a federal facility until they turned 21 for their convictions for having a gun on school property.
At the time of his February arrest, Johnson was awaiting sentencing after being convicted in federal court for being a drug user while being in possession of a gun. That federal charge followed a traffic stop in Fayetteville when Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies found Johnson with marijuana and a loaded pistol.
Johnson has been sentenced to four years in federal prison.
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