Johnson was released Wednesday (Sept. 23) from Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson.
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The Baton Rouge Advocate reported that law enforcement officials were not made aware of Johnson’s accidental release until Monday, when he was recognized by a passerby.
According to officials with the Department of Corrections, early indications show Johnson was getting released from Dixon on good behavior for prior charges. He posted bond and was released as if his manslaughter conviction didn’t exist.
Johnson pleaded guilty in 2013 to the shooting death of Cordies Gales, which landed him with the manslaughter conviction.
WAFB-TV reports that Johnson was sentenced to 35 years for manslaughter.
A corrections official says the person processing Johnson’s paperwork didn’t notice his rap sheet and the 30 years he still had left to serve for manslaughter.
Clayton said it appeared the records of Johnson’s convictions had moved from the court to the corrections department as usual after Johnson’s guilty plea. He was also given a five year term for illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The release reportedly happened because of a clerical error.
Sheriff Stassi on Tuesday disputed Laborde’s claim that his office did not file Johnson’s conviction information.
“He’s a unsafe person, but we’re going to get him, we’re going to catch him”, Tony Clayton, a special prosecutor who helped get Johnson convicted, told WAFB News.
“He has family outside of the state but we have no documented facts that he’s in any of those locations”, Stassi said. “If he was smart, which clearly he’s not, looking at the trouble he got himself into, he would turn himself in”. “He’s going to be serving the time he’s supposed to when we get him back in custody”.
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If you see Johnson, you are urged to call 911 immediately.
