Read the multiple charges that a Johnston County school board member has been indicted on

T. Keung Hui
·3 min read
4

Johnston County school board member Ronald Johnson is accused of trying to cover up an extramarital affair by trying to extort a political candidate.

A Johnston County grand jury handed down indictments on Monday charging Johnson with one count of felony extortion and one count of obstruction of justice. Johnson was also indicted on three charges of willfully failing to discharge his duties as a school board member.

The extortion charge involves allegations that Johnson threatened to release a recording with defamatory allegations against candidate DeVan Barbour IV, just weeks before last spring’s Republican primary for the U.S. House District 13 seat. The indictment alleges that Johnson threatened to release the recording unless Barbour pressured a relative to recant statements that she had an affair with Johnson.

Johnson was previously fired as a police detective by the Smithfield Police Department.

Here’s a look at the allegations in the indictment:

I. Felony Extortion

The jurors for the state upon their oath present that in Johnston County, on or about April 25, 2022, the Defendant named above unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did threaten and communicate a threat to DeVan Barbour IV, a candidate for political office, with the intent wrongfully to obtain an advantage. Defendant threatened to release a recording in the defendant’s possession of defamatory allegations concerning DeVan Barbour IV weeks before a primary election in which DeVan Barbour IV was on the ballot. Defendant threatened to release the recording if DeVan Barbour IV did not pressure Angela McLeod Barbour into recanting her allegations that she had an affair with the defendant. This act was done in violation of N.C.G.S. 14-118.4.

II. Willfully failing to discharge duties

The jurors for the state upon their oath present that in Johnston County, on or about May 31, 2022, the Defendant named above unlawfully and willfully did, as a member of the Johnston County Board of Education, omit, neglect, and refuse to discharge a duty of his office, by recording a closed session of the Johnston County Board of Education meeting, in violation of his Board duties, and did thereby cause injury to the public. This act was done in violation of N.C.G.S. 14-230.

III. Willfully failing to discharge duties

The jurors for the state upon their oath present that in Johnston County, on or about Nov. 10, 2022, the Defendant named above unlawfully and willfully did, as a member of the Johnston County Board of Education, omit, neglect, and refuse to discharge a duty of his office, by failing to comply with public records requests, in violation of his Board duties, did thereby cause injury to the public. This act was done in violation of N.C.G.S. 14-230.

IV. Willfully failing to discharge duties

The jurors for the state upon their oath present that in Johnston County, on or about July 1, 2022, the Defendant named above unlawfully and willfully did, as a member of the Johnston County Board of Education, omit, neglect, and refuse to discharge a duty of his office, by attempting to have two Clayton High School special needs students transferred to another school as an act of personal retaliation, in violation of his Board duties, and did thereby cause injury to the public. This act was done in violation of N.C.G.S. 14-230.

V Felony Obstruction of Justice

The jurors for the state upon their oath present that in Johnston County, on or about January 25, 2023, the defendant named above unlawfully and willfully and feloniously did obstruct justice by removing evidence related to his criminal activity from Clayton Fitness, Inc., when the defendant became aware that law enforcement was investigating his belongings in the facility. The offense was done with deceit and intent to defraud; in secrecy and with malice; was infamous; and was done in violation of the common law, and against the peace and dignity of the State.

Indictment against Johnston County school board member Ronald Johnson by Keung Hui on Scribd