Defense attorney in court for drug smuggling into prison

A defense attorney, now wearing an orange jumpsuit, shook his head in apparent disagreement as a prosecutor outlined allegations that he had used forged powers of attorney to hand over drugs to an incarcerated client.

Jason Johnson, the lawyer police investigators pursued during the alleged drug delivery at Criminal Court, is expected to resume work defending other defendants once he is released on bail on three counts, his attorney said. Prosecutors on Monday accepted charges of engaging in criminal activity, introducing a controlled substance into a correctional facility and tampering with a witness after a weeks-long investigation that began with a phone call from jail scheduling the exchange of drug-laced paper.

Vikram Vij, Johnson’s defense attorney, insisted after the hearing that the case should go to trial and called the charges a “political ploy” that humiliated his client. The case is the second since October in which a Houston-area lawyer has been accused of smuggling drugs into prison. Those allegations prompted the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to deny inmates access to records from their attorneys and other agencies.

“We believe that Jason will be fully vindicated and that these allegations will not stand,” Vij said.

Prosecutors allege that during a bail hearing in 228th District Court, Johnson knowingly collected documents possibly containing methoxydimethyloxobutane from a client’s fiancée and gave them to the client, who is charged with murder.

Assistant District Attorney Kim Smith opposed the more lenient bail conditions, telling the judge that Johnson must meet stricter requirements as a court officer. She later said Johnson profited from the alleged plot.

Judge Brian Warren reduced Johnson’s bail on all three charges from a total of $100,000 to $45,000 and waived strict conditions imposed by prosecutors, such as requiring his attorney to remain under house arrest. His access to the jail was not restricted, records show.

Johnson, 42, is prohibited from contacting the client behind the allegation that the documents may be laced with drugs, or his fiancée, but he is allowed to continue his legal work at the court. He has been admitted to the Texas bar since 2008.

Vij declined to comment on what he considered problematic aspects of the case, but other lawyers speculated about possible future obstacles.

Joe Vinas, president of the Harris County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, reviewed the charging documents and said prosecutors had little evidence that Johnson knowingly supplied drug-laced paper.

“The state has to rely on someone they are currently charging with murder and someone they are claiming sold him drugs,” Vinas said. “Unless they have something else that shows Jason Johnson that there are drugs on paper, they cannot prove that he knowingly engaged in criminal activity.”

No charges were filed against the defendant and his fiancée, and prosecutors said they would not face any charges because of their cooperation.

“Without their cooperation, we would not have been able to win this case,” Smith said.

Relatives and friends of Johnson declined to comment after his court appearance.