~ Update: September 27, 2023
On Monday, September 25, 2023, 59-years-old MICHAEL A. JOHNSON SR. and his wife, 58-years-old CAROLYN W. JOHNSON (both pictured), appeared in Hampton General District Court on animal cruelty charges that were filed against them in July 2023.
In July, the Hampton Police Department arrested MICHAEL A. JOHNSON SR. and charged him with animal cruelty and dogfighting after four adult Pitbulls and four Pitbull puppies were found living in poor health and unsafe conditions at the couple’s home on Ireland Street.
Detectives also recovered evidence suggesting that the dogs were being conditioned for fights.
Shortly after the arrest, police announced that the defendant’s wife, CAROLYN W. JOHNSON, had also been charged in connection with the case, with eight counts of Failure to Provide Duties of Ownership and eight counts of Animal Cruelty.
At the time, she was a Lieutenant with the Hampton Sheriff's Office. After she was charged, she was placed on administrative leave and then retired.
13NewsNow reports that on Monday, all the charges were pushed back.
“Representatives of the Virginia Attorney General's Office handling the case announced they will not prosecute the couple on these charges at this time. Attorneys could bring the charges back to court at a later time pending new evidence”, reports 13NewsNow.
All the misdemeanor charges filed against CAROLYN W. JOHNSON were nolle prossed, a Latin phrase meaning “to be unwilling to prosecute.”
All the charges filed against her husband, two of which are felonies, were also nolle prossed.
Pending new evidence in their investigation, attorneys still have the chance to bring the charges back to court.
I emailed Victoria LaCivita, spokeswoman for the Virginia Attorney General's Office and asked her: “In addition to the poor conditions the dogs and puppies were found in, would you please disclose what new evidence is required to bring back the charges and prosecute the defendants?” To that, Ms. LaCivita responded: “Despite the hearing, the investigation remains ongoing and I cannot comment on pending litigation.”
I am not just angry and disappointed; I am also extremely confused as to how the investigations were conducted and what importance was given to the evidence recovered from the couple’s residence. Once again, we have Voiceless Victims without justice!
According to a press release by the Hampton Police Department, 58-years-old CAROLYN JOHNSON has also been charged in connection with this case. She is facing eight (8) counts of Failure to Provide Duties of Ownership and eight (8) counts of Animal Cruelty.
Following a complaint submitted to the Hampton Animal Response Team (HART) on July 25, 2023, the Hampton Police Division arrested 59-years-old MICHAEL A. JOHNSON SR., accused of dogfighting.
The Virginian-Pilot reports that JOHNSON is married to Lieutenant Carolyn Johnson of the Hampton Sheriff’s Office.
HART officers responded to a home on Ireland Street near Phoebus High School but JOHNSON did not allow them to perform a welfare check on his dogs so a search warrant was obtained and executed.
Officials found eight dogs, four adult Pitbulls and four Pitbull puppies, living in poor health and unsafe conditions.
WAVY reports that according to court documents, “The dogs had rough and raw skin and were covered in fleas. The animals ears’ were bleeding because of fly bites.”
The Voiceless Victims were being kept in kennels covered with feces.
Inside a shed, officers found evidence consistent with preparing dogs for fighting and inside the home they found “documents and items associated with breeding and conditioning a dog”, reports WAVY.
Police said that JOHNSON has been charged with eight (8) counts of Animal Cruelty, eight (8) counts of Failure to Provide Duties of Ownership, and four (4) counts of Dogfighting.
JOHNSON was released on a meager $5,000 bond. A condition set by a judge is that no animals are to be in the residence until the court authorizes otherwise.
Court records show that JOHNSON is scheduled to appear at Hampton General District Court on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 8:30 a.m.
The Hampton Animal Response Team removed all eight furvictims and took them to the Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter. Needless to say, I have emailed PRAS to inquire about the furbabies’ well being and if I hear back, I will post an update.
The investigation is ongoing.
JOHNSON, get a job instead of using innocent dogs to make a living!
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Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
