06/20/2008 - LOUISA - A Louisa woman convicted in March on drug charges was found guilty of additional charges following a trial Monday in Lawrence Circuit Court.
Rose Johnson was arrested and charged in August 2007 in 10 separate felony cases involving eight counts of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance, five counts of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance, and one count of third degree trafficking a controlled substance.
At the time of her arrest, police found 130 pills, an assortment of morphine, hydrocodone, methadone, Valium and several types of anti-depressants along with $1,422 in cash.
On Monday, a circuit court jury found her guilty of trafficking with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance, third-degree trafficking and persistent felony offender. The panel recommended a 26 year prison sentence, including 10 years for the first charge, five years for the second charge, 12 months for the third charge and 10 years for the fourth charge.
The sentence is to run consecutively with the seven-year term she received earlier this year. Formal sentencing is set for July 11.
An informant worked closely with UNITE in the purchase of the drugs from Johnson, authorities said.
Brent Flowers, Johnson's attorney, stated in his closing argument to the jury that his client was "not a major drug dealer."
"Yes, they found pills on her, and yes, she admitted to being a druggy, but that is all," Flowers said. "She is not guilty of trafficking. I ask that you, as the jury, demand proof that she was actually guilty of these charges. Ask the commonwealth to show you where she is actually passing the pills and also if they knew that Rose sold the pills, why were all three women that were present searched?"
In her closing arguments, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Kimberly Compton said evidence presented, during the trial was "more than sufficient" to convict Johnson.
"... if everyone who had ever been arrested on drug charges needed a video to be convicted, then no one would ever be convicted," Compton said. "I ask the jury to use common sense. If Rose Johnson did not sell the informant drugs, then how did she end up with the buy money in her bra? You can see here on the tape that he (the informant) asked specifIcally for two purple morphine pills, and at that time Johnson removed them from her bra and took the money. The informant no more than walked in and asked, 'What do you have, Rose?' when she proceeded to tell him. Mr. Flowers proceeds to say that the amount of money that Rose had on her at the time is not a sufficient amount to be named a big-time drug dealer, but you have to ask yourself, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, with Rose living on a fixed income of only $600 a month, and two of the pills she sold the informant having a street value of $25 apiece, where does the money come from to purchase them?"
Following the trial, Sheriff Garrett Roberts said Johnson's conviction is a "clear message to drug dealers that if you're going to sell, then you are going to go to jail and receive the strictest punishment that the law will allow."
"The citizens will no longer tolerate this in their community," Roberts said.
Eight additional cases against Johnson are pending.
by Cory Graham, Big Sandy News
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