Attorney Erik James Johnson's Legal Cases

Criminal defense

State v. Graham (Jury Trial)

Dec 07, 2011

OUTCOME: Not Guilty of All Counts

Client was a veteran of the armed services, having seen combat. As a result, he suffered from PTSD that would manifest itself in depressive, sometimes suicidal, episodes. During one such episode, his d ... evoted significant other attempted to seize a sharp object from his hands. In this attempt she was struck, causing a red abrasion to her head. Client was charged with misdemeanor assault as an act of domestic violence. During voir dire, the phase of trial where jurors are questioned about their ability to follow the law, among other issues, I had a long discussion about mental health and suicide. Specifically, the effect of such an episode on a person's mental state. It was emotional, and several jurors kindly conveyed their own personal experiences with suicide. My client was later acquitted of all charges under the Theory of Innocence that while he did cause physical contact, it was not done "knowingly" (practically certain), as required by the crime he was charged under.

Criminal defense

State v. Ms. Craig (Jury Trial) Child Abuse

Nov 30, 2011

OUTCOME: Guilty - Misdemeanor Child Abuse and Assault

This case was a melee at a roller rink. A fight between two female teenagers in the middle of the rink caused a giant pile-up in the dark with lights strobing. One teenager alleged to police that an ad ... ult had come up to her while on the ground and kicked her in the back. The case had many troubling racial overtones. Police rounded up a handful of black people, per the (white) teenager's allegations, put them behind a glass window, then asked her to pick out her assailant. And that was that. How someone could see who (if anyone) kicked them in the back while in a 70+ person dog-pile, in the dark, with strobe lights pulsating, is beyond me. Unfortunately, I believe we picked one wrong juror who, I found out from talking to that juror, had persuaded everyone from not guilty to guilty.

Criminal defense

State v. Wang (Jury Trial) Sexual Assault and Assault

Oct 05, 2011

OUTCOME: Not Guilty of misdemeanor Sexual Assault, and Guilty of Assault.

Mr. Wang was accused of striking his wife and attempting to sexually assault her with an object. Using the physical evidence in the room, and on the participants bodies, we constructed a Theory of Inno ... cence arguing that his wife's story simply cannot be true. Sadly, Mr. Wang was convicted of misdemeanor assault, but he was acquitted of the more serious sexual charges. Saving him from registering as a sex offender, potentially for life, and sex offender probation. At the end of the day, this was a win, as the DA's had insisted that Mr. Wang plead to a sex offense during negotiations.

Criminal defense

State v. Goodman (Jury Trial)

Sep 07, 2011

OUTCOME: Not Guilty of Harassment and Destruction of Property, Guilty Menacing.

Client was accused of three criminal acts of domestic violence against his wife. Physical harassment (touching to harass, no injury), destruction of property (cell phone into a boiling pot of water), a ... nd verbal menacing for allegedly making threatening statements. Mr. Goodman was acquitted of harassment and destruction of property, and convicted of the verbal menacing. 2 Day Trial.

Criminal defense

State v. McGee (Jury Trial)

Aug 24, 2011

OUTCOME: Guilty of 3rd Degree Assault (Domestic Violence)

Domestic violence case where male client was accused of assaulting his live-in female significant other. She suffered a relatively significant injury to her left eye. Client had some defensive wounds. ... But the woman's children from a prior relationship testified to what they heard during the incident, which occurred behind closed doors in the bedroom. We ran self-defense, but were ultimately not successful. 3 Day Jury Trial

Erik James Johnson's Legal Cases (25)

State v. Graham (Jury Trial)

State v. Ms. Craig (Jury Trial) Child Abuse

State v. Wang (Jury Trial) Sexual Assault and Assault

State v. Goodman (Jury Trial)

State v. McGee (Jury Trial)