Grand Jury dismisses charges against Joe Johnson

 

   An Avoyelles Grand Jury found insufficient evidence to support charges of payroll fraud and malfeasance against Joseph Johnson -- a well-known law enforcement officer who has worked for several agencies.
  Johnson, of Mansura, had been charged with one count of malfeasance in office and 30 counts of payroll fraud involving his work for Cottonport and Bunkie police departments. The Grand Jury reported July 28 that it found no evidence that Johnson intended to defraud the police departments for which he was working as a part-time officer.
   State Police Johnson was arrested by  Louisiana State Police on Feb. 2.
  “The issue was really whether he worked at Cottonport while working at Bunkie,” District Attorney Charles Riddle said. “No evidence could show that. His relationship with Cottonport showed he was paid differently. There was no intent to defraud any others by the submitted time sheets.”
   In addition to working part-time for the two police forces, Johnson was also an officer with the 12th Judicial District’s Families In Need of Services office. The FINS position was not involved in the complaint that led to the arrest.
  The State Police investigation began in December 2015 when Bunkie Police Chief Bobby Corner contacted the LSP Bureau of Investigation in Alexandria for assistance concerning a complaint that alleged  Johnson billed both towns for the same hours worked and was paid by both towns for those hours.