Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Radford's Johnson booked, released
The rising senior guard for the Highlanders' basketball team faces two felony charges.
Radford University basketball player Amir Johnson, who was indicted more than two weeks ago on two felony charges, turned himself in to police Monday.
Johnson, 21, is charged with burglary and grand larceny. According to indictments handed up by a Radford grand jury that met June 12, Johnson is charged with breaking and entering into the home of ex-teammates Martell McDuffy and Jamar Jenkins on May 5.
Johnson's lawyer, Jimmy Turk, said Johnson is accused of taking a PlayStation, some software for the PlayStation and an iPod.
"I certainly hope that he is cleared of all of the charges against him," Turk said.
If Johnson expects to continue playing for the Highlanders, being cleared is essential.
The university's policy states that if an athlete is charged with a felony, then he or she is suspended from practice and games until the charges are dropped, dismissed or otherwise resolved. A conviction results in permanent dismissal from the team.
Turk said he is going to try to get the case moving forward very quickly. A trial date for Johnson has not been set.
Johnson is from Pittsburgh and has been out of town, Turk said.
Radford police made arrangements through Turk for Johnson to turn himself in when he returned to Radford, Lt. Andy Wilburn said. Johnson turned himself in Monday and was taken to the New River Valley Regional Jail.
He was released after posting bail, Wilburn said.
According to court documents, Johnson has no prior criminal record. The magistrate who set his $1,000 secured bail noted in a document that Johnson was "cooperative, truthful."
A special condition of Johnson's bail is that he have no contact with McDuffy and Jenkins and stay off their property.
Johnson, a rising senior, was the team's starting point guard and helped lead the Highlanders to the Big South Conference championship.





