HOUSTON, Texas — Attorney Jason Johnson normally appears in criminal court alongside his clients. Now he’s the one in need of legal defense.
"This investigation, when it started, it was bad enough that he was bringing contraband into the jail," said Assistant Harris County District Attorney Kimberly Smith. "We never expected that it would go down this dark path.”
Johnson was charged just four weeks ago for allegedly delivering drugs to a jailed client at least three times. New child porn charges are for allegedly having pics and videos on an iPad with a pink case covered in Hello Kitty and other stickers.
"How many images were there?" asked Judge Brian Warren during Johnson's arraignment.
"Your honor, I believe there are 12 total images," Smith replied. "Or 22, excuse me, 22.”
Prosecutors said the images were discovered as they investigated Johnson’s devices in relation to the other case.
"We believe that he was just disguising this iPad in order to try and conceal evidence potentially,” said Smith.
Johnson’s defense team contends the iPad belongs to his daughter and that she was the victim of some child sex predator who manipulated her to exchange pornographic photos.
"Jason is a concerned father who wants to know who is the person sending these pics to his daughter and manipulating her to send pics to him,” said defense attorney Vikram Vij.
“Jason Johnson is a concerned father, and it is a shame that the DA’s office is attempting to prosecute him for being a good father,” said defense attorney D'Angelo Lowe.
The state said it’s still a crime to possess them no matter who is in the child porn images.
Johnson is now facing four felonies between both cases. His combined bonds after Thursday's hearing total $125,000, however, we’re told he’s still able to consult with clients since his law license remains in effect.