Like a Curse

The story of Sarah Johnson struck me as Greek tragedy:   the unexpected outcome of what might have seemed reasonable actions.

There's been another chapter.  It is like a curse.

August 29, 2005: I was wrong.  The event I was referring to had no direct connection with Sarah Johnson.

"After being around Sarah [Johnson] on a day-to-day basis for nearly two months, I've learned she has a need for constant and total attention," said Johnson's maternal aunt and former guardian, Linda Vavold...."This 'it's all about me' attitude is more than just a phase. She's totally self-absorbed, and is unwilling and/or unable to have a personal relationship with anyone." Aunt's assessment

Early on Sept. 2, 2003,  Alan and Diane Johnson were shot to death in their home, leaving their children Matthew (18) and Sarah (16) orphans.  Sarah was alone in the house with her parents at the time of the murders.

On October 29, 2003, Sarah Johnson was arrested for the murder of her parents.

From October 29, 2003, to  March, 2005, Sarah Johnson was incarcerated in numerous facilities around Idaho, as tiny, rural Blaine County doesn't have much in the way of special facilities for violent female juvenile offenders.  Johnson's defense attorneys maintain Johnson is innocent, and that Blaine county Sheriff's Department officials kept moving Johnson for nefarious, not practical reasons: in order to interrupt building her defense case.
On March 16, 2005, Sarah Johnson was convicted of her parents' murders.
On June 30, 2005, Johnson was sentenced to life without parole.

"I lost the two best friends I ever had," said brother Matthew Johnson, referring to his parents. "I think some honesty needs to come out of you and that you need to plead to the court for some forgiveness and give some explanations as to what happened.  And judge, I would like to see the maximum, because after tomorrow, when you read your sentence, I don't ever want to have to hear about her or this ever again." Brother's request

The Johnson case was the talk of Blaine county.  One locus of talk was the rumor that Johnson had had sex with an adult male convict, while in Blaine County's custody in March and April of 2004, while she was 17.   

Idaho's statutory rape law defines all sexual contact between a minor and an adult "rape" even if the act is consensual.

These rumors were relayed to the Sheriff's office in March 2005. 

Early in July, 2005 Johnson's defense team began trumpeting the charge that the relations between Johnson and the adult convict constituted "molestation" and that Johnson was moved about to prevent others from learning how the Blaine county Sheriff's department had failed to  protect Johnson from the opportunity to have sex.

On August 3, 2005,  Johnson's defense claim filed a tort claim against the Blaine County Sheriff's Department, alleging "negligent and reckless supervision" of the inmate as well as "negligent and reckless custodial placement" of Johnson in Blaine County jail, where she was held with adults twice her age. 

On  August 24, 2005,  Blaine County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Lance, who worked in the Blaine County jail,  committed suicide.  Lance's wife, Teresa Lance, is reported to have said that her husband   "extremely upset" after being questioned  three times in the last two weeks by "the police".  The last interrogation evidently lasted for five hours.  The interrogations concerned  allegations that Lance may have been connected to an alleged rape of a jail inmate in 2004.

August 29, 2005: It turns out that Mike Lance was accused by another inmate.  Blaine County Sheriff Walt Femling is being quoted:

“On August 15, Gretchen Biddle, currently housed in the Twin Falls County Jail, made allegations she had sexual contact with Deputy Mike Lance, a Blaine County correctional officer. The Magic Valley Critical Incident Task Force was contacted. Three detectives were assigned to the case. The Task Force first interviewed Gretchen Biddle on Aug. 16 at the Twin Falls County Jail.

“Gretchen has alleged she had sexual contact with Deputy Lance in the months of June and July of 2005 while she was being housed in the Blaine County Jail. On Aug. 24, Mike Lance, along with his attorney, Joe Fillicetti was interviewed by two detectives from the Task Force concerning the specific allegations made by Gretchen Biddle.

“Mike was never charged in this case.” Femling looked up at reporters to emphasize the fact. “He left the interview with his attorney."

If it turns out that

 

Sources:

http://www.spr.org/en/news/2005/0712.htm http://www.courttv.com/trials/johnson/071105_ctv.html http://www.woodriverjournal.com/articles/2005/07/08/ http://www.courttv.com/trials/johnson/071105_ctv.html http://news.yahoo.com/s/ct/20050803/cr_ct/convictedteenmurderersaysshewasrapedwhileawaitingtrial http://news.findlaw.com/court_tv/s/20050711/11jul2005174123.html

Johnson's defence deam is lead by:
Mark Rader
Rader Stoddard & Perez PC
381 W Idaho Ave Ontario OR 97914.
Phone:, 541 889-2351.
Fax:, 541 889-6672

Comments

[jv]

Gretchen, I know you are not lying.

I live in California, I dated Mike Lance back in the late 80's and early 90's. I met him in a restaurant when he worked for Lockeed in Sunnyvale, CA.

the rest of the comment has been disemvowelled by the editor. It contains personal information about Mr. Lance and is inappropriate

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