Former DA Jackie Johnson Arrested for Oath Violation in Ahmaud Arbery's Murder Case

Former District Attorney Jackie Johnson has been arrested after allegedly helping shield suspects involved in the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery.

Johnson, who served as the top prosecutor for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit in Georgia, was booked into the Glynn County Jail on Wednesday. She was released on her own recognizance and her bond was set at $10,000.

Last week, Johnson was indicted by a grand jury on two charges—violation of oath of a public officer and obstruction of a law enforcement officer— in relation to the Arbery case. She has denied wrongdoing.

Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was shot and killed while jogging on February 23, 2020. He was pursued by two white men with guns in southern Georgia. Graphic video of the shooting was later shared online, sparking nationwide outrage.

Days after the video was released and two months after the attack, Travis McMichael and Gregory McMichael were charged with murder and aggravated assault. The McMichael's have said they thought Arbery was a burglar.

Their neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan, who filmed the fatal shooting on his phone, has also been charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.

All three men have pleaded not guilty. Their trial is slated to begin this fall.

The Brunswick District Attorney's Office and the Glynn County Police Department conducted the initial investigation into Arbery's death. Johnson disqualified herself from handling the case, noting that Gregory McMichael had been a longtime investigator in her office and was a former Glynn County police officer.

But before stepping down, Johnson is accused of delaying the arrests of the McMichaels.

Last week's indictment said Johnson showed "favor and affection" to Greg McMichael. It also said she failed to treat Arbery and his family "fairly and with dignity."

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced the indictment on Thursday. Carr said his office is "committed to ensuring those who are entrusted to serve are carrying out their duties ethically and honestly."

Johnson faces a sentence of one to five years if convicted of a violation of oath of a public officer. The obstruction of a law enforcement officer carries a sentence of up to 12 months.

Arbery's family celebrated the indictment as a "huge win" in a press conference Friday.

"The path to justice for Ahmaud Aubrey and his family has been a long and arduous one, but the indictment is yet another step in the right direction," family attorney Benjamin Crump told reporters. "Former DA Johnson may not have pulled the trigger on the day Ahmaud was murdered, but she played a starring role in the cover-up."

Newsweek has reached out to Crump for the family's comment on Johnson's arrest, but didn't receive a response before publication.