On the felony front, it’s not been a good week or so for former high school teammates Jordan Jefferson and Damaris Johnson.
Late last week, the LSU quarterback turned himself in on a warrant for second-degree felony battery. Five days later, his former teammate is also on the receiving end of a felony warrant, although for a decidedly more white-collar reason.
Tulsa World is reporting that a warrant for the arrest of Johnson has been issued on a charge of felony embezzlement. Johnson is accused of paying just over $13 for roughly $2,800 in merchandise at a Macy’s department store in Tulsa. Johnson’s girlfriend, Chamon Jones, works at the store; she’s already been charged and is free on bond.
“We reviewed the investigative reports by the Tulsa Police Department and made an objective charging decision based on the evidence presented to our office,” first assistant district attorney Doug Drummond said in a statement. “Both Mr. Johnson and Ms. Jones have been cooperative with law enforcement during the investigation.
“As with any other person charged with a crime, they are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
Johnson was suspended indefinitely after his name surfaced in connection to the incident. The school reiterated today that he “remains suspended indefinitely from all team activities.”
Johnson, the NCAA’s leader in career all-purpose yards, was the team’s leading receiver last year with 57 receptions for 872 yards and four touchdowns. He was also the team’s second-leading rusher with 560 yards and seven touchdowns, and returned a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown.
The Associated Press named Johnson a second-team All-American following the 2010 season.