Garrett Wilson Johnson
Leonardtown, MD — A Mechanicsville man has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for violating his probation in a theft case. Garrett Johnson, 22, was sentenced June 22 by St. Mary’s County Circuit Court Judge Michael Stamm. Johnson had originally been sentenced by Stamm to five years in prison but 18 months of that was suspended.
Johnson pled guilty in December of 2013 to the charge of theft scheme: $1,000 to $10,000. He was placed on three year’s supervised probation after release.
During his probation Johnson failed drug tests on eight separate occasions, according to the judge. That information came after Johnson’s attorney Shane Mattingly painted a picture of a client who was successfully completing drug treatment.
Johnson’s father also testified that his son was trying to right himself. “He’s doing things to try to help himself,” Joseph Johnson said of his son.
The judge in reciting all of the positive urinalysis results that showed cocaine and marijuana usage, said that he expected that news came as quite a surprise to Johnson’s family.
Johnson was arrested after a St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office surveillance operation on July 4, 2013 resulted in a traffic stop of a car in Medley’s Neck. A search of the car revealed numerous items that had been stolen from vehicles in St. Mary’s County. Johnson and Robert Russell, then 19, of California were arrested.
In imposing the back-up time of 18 months the judge allowed Johnson to turn himself in June 24th and did authorize work release.
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com