Brian Keith Johnson, 40, of Knox City, stands accused of criminally negligent homicide and endangering a child stemming from the death of his daughter, Alicia Mia Marie Johnson, on March 28, The girl was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced deceased later that morning. Johnson will be represented by defense attorney Lee Ann Marsh. Jury selection is scheduled to begin at 9 a. Both charges pending against Johnson are state jail felony offenses, punishable by days to 2 years in prison.
If Johnson is convicted, and the enhancement is found to be accurate, he could face up to 10 years in prison on each count. The death of 1-year-old Alicia Mae Marie Johnson in the early morning hours of March 28, , left many community members in Knox City heartbroken. According to the transcripts, a responding officer testified that the home smelled of sewage, the children appeared hungry and dirty, there was no running water, the refrigerator did not work, and there was an infestation of roaches.
The transcripts also contain testimony suggesting a total of eleven firearms were found in the home, several of which were loaded. A law enforcement official testified that when he responded to the home around an hour after the incident, three guns were in the immediate vicinity of the children. The three surviving children, including the 5-year-old who found the loaded gun, have been under the supervision of CPS since March 28, According to court documents, all three of the children could be called witnesses in this trial.
Officials with CPS are also listed as potential witnesses. Several employees of the Knox County Hospital, where the child was eventually pronounced deceased, have been listed as potential witnesses as well. Three Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory analysts have been listed as potential witnesses and designated as experts. Angelia Mae Smith, 30, of Knox County, also appeared on the witness list. She is also the mother of the victim and the three surviving children in this case.
Courthouse officials said they anticipate opening statements will begin on Monday afternoon. This is a developing story. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Copyright Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
