From the office of the District Attorney General for the 26th Judicial District, Jody Pickens – man sentenced to 30 years in death of his child.
On June 2, 2020, the Henderson County, Tennessee Grand Jury indicted 35-year-old Christopher Lamont Johnson of Portland, Tennessee, for several crimes the most serious being Felony Murder, Aggravated Child Abuse (2 counts), Aggravated Child Abuse, Vehicular Homicide, Reckless Aggravated Assault, Vehicular Assault, Possession of Stolen Property, Driving Under the Influence, Driving on a Revoked License (5th Offense) and Felony Evading Arrest.
The indictment was the result of a May 19th, 2019, incident in which Christopher Lamont Johnson was traveling through Henderson County on Interstate 40 in a stolen vehicle. In the vehicle with Johnson were his ten-year old son, and his eight-year-old-daughter.
Neither child was properly restrained. Johnson drove the vehicle, with his two children inside, while under the influence of multiple narcotics. Subsequent testing by the Tennessee Bureau Of Investigation would show that Johnson was under the influence of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Marijuana, Fentanyl and Morphine.
A deputy with the Henderson County Sherriff’s Office attempted to perform a traffic stop on Christopher Johnson after radar confirmed him to be traveling at 94 mph in a 70 mph zone on I-40.
Johnson chose to evade law enforcement at speeds over 110 mph instead of stopping his vehicle thereby risking the lives of other drivers on the interstate, and the lives of his own children. Due to the risk to public safety, the Henderson County Sherriff’s Office terminated the pursuit around the 104-mile marker.
Christopher Johnson continued to drive at an excessive speed and, to avoid the potential of law enforcement waiting on him further down the interstate, took the 101 exit off I-40. Johnson lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a concrete barrier. Due to the crash, his ten-year-old son suffered a leg fracture, and his eight-year-old daughter died at the scene.
On September 10, 2021, Christopher Johnson pled guilty to Second Degree Murder, two counts of Aggravated Child Abuse, Felony Evading Arrest with Risk of Death or Injury, Reckless Endangerment with a Deadly Weapon, and Possession of Stolen Property over $10,000.
He was sentenced to a total effective sentence of 30 years with no parole, in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney General Eric Wood and investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, with Trooper Tracy Tyler serving as the primary case agent.
General Pickens stated the following concerning the case: “This case is tragic. A little 8-year-old girl was killed because her father, someone who is supposed to protect her, chose to steal a car, obtain drugs, get high on those drugs, and lead officers on a high-speed chase that in addition to ultimately causing the death of one child and seriously injuring another, endangered the law enforcement officers and everyone on that stretch of I-40 at that time.
“While nothing will change what occurred on that day, Johnson will not breathe free air for the next 30 years of his life.
“Also, it is my hope that when the defendant gets up every morning and considers his surroundings, he thinks about his precious little girl who because of him, will never be able to fulfill the promise of her life. God bless the family of the victims. I hope that they can find some peace someday.”
