In a significant development in Johnston County, former school board member Ronald Lee Johnson Jr. has been convicted on multiple charges, including extortion and obstruction of justice. The verdict came after a 10-day trial, where Johnson was found guilty of attempting to blackmail former congressional candidate DeVan Barbour with a compromising recording. The former Smithfield police detective also faced charges for improperly recording closed school board sessions and manipulating student transfers as a form of retaliation. Judge Joseph N. Crosswhite handed down a sentence of six to 17 months in prison and has stripped Johnson of his law enforcement credentials and school board position, emphasizing the gravity of the offenses. Johnson’s immediate imprisonment marks a notable closure to this multifaceted legal battle.
