Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden

Mitchell Johnson
Born	August 11, 1984 (1984-08-11) (age 27) Grand Meadow, Minnesota
Charge(s)	1998: 5 counts of murder, 10 counts aggravated assault 2007: drug possession, unlawful firearm possession 2008: theft, financial identity fraud, drug possession
Penalty	1998: Incarceration until age 18 and to 21 on federal charges 2008: 4-year federal sentence + 18-year state sentence
Status	Incarcerated
Parents	Scott Johnson Gretchen Woodward

Andrew Golden
Born	May 25, 1986 (1986-05-25) (age 25) Jonesboro, Arkansas, U.S.A
Charge(s)	Murder, attempted murder, unlawful firearm possession
Penalty	Incarceration until age 18 and to 21 on federal charges
Status	Released
Parents	Jacqueline and Dennis Golden

Mitchell Scott Johnson (born August 11, 1984) and Andrew Douglas Golden (born May 25, 1986) are former middle school students who committed the Westside Middle School massacre, killing four students and one teacher, and wounding ten others.

The massacre

Main article: Westside Middle School massacre

Trial

During the trial, Johnson hung his head and read a letter of apology he had written to victims' families. Mitchell said he wasn't targeting anyone. "We were not going to shoot at anyone in particular," he said. "I really thought we would scare them. I am sorry. I hope anyone who listens to these words knows how truly sorry I am."

While in detention awaiting trial, Johnson wrote a letter that stated: "Hi. My name is Mitchell. My thoughts and prayers are with those people who were killed, or shot, and their families. I am really sad inside about everything. My thoughts and prayers are with those kids that I go to school with. I really want people to know the real Mitchell someday. Sincerely, Mitchell Johnson."^[1]

Due to their age, they were tried as juveniles, and were found guilty of five counts of murder. Following their convictions, Johnson and Golden were taken by National Guard helicopter to Alexander, Arkansas, the location of the Youth Services Division's juvenile facility and the state's most secure juvenile facility.^[2]

Release

Johnson was released on August 11, 2005, on his 21st birthday due to federal gun crimes. Originally he was to only be held until he turned 18 years old. He spent less than 2 years in prison for each murder that he committed.^[3] In interviews with Johnson's mother, she has said that he wants to leave Jonesboro and become a Baptist minister. However in a deposition taken for the civil case, he stated that he wanted to become a Seventh Day Adventist Minister, but hasn't found a Seventh Day Adventist church that he wanted to attend.

Golden was released on May 25, 2007, also his 21st birthday.^[4] Golden's precise whereabouts were unknown until he applied for a concealed weapon permit in Arkansas on October 7, 2008, under the name he now uses, Drew Douglas Grant. His application was denied by the Arkansas State Police, who noted that Golden had lied on the application about his previous residences and claimed it would be illegal for Golden to own or possess a firearm, though the reason for this is unclear. The assumed name that Golden was using had been unknown up until this point due to a gag order, but police were able to tie Andrew Golden to Grant through fingerprint records during the background check for the permit.^[5]

Golden completed his civil case deposition on May 6, 2008.^[6].

At the end of 2008, a person was confirmed as being registered in the University of Arkansas at Batesville under the name "Drew Douglas Grant" and in his third trimester in the Business Services program. ^[7].

2007-2008 legal trouble

On January 1, 2007, Johnson was arrested by the ATF after a traffic stop in Fayetteville, Arkansas on misdemeanor charges of carrying a weapon—a loaded 9 mm pistol—and possession of 21.2 grams of marijuana. Though the van Johnson was riding in was registered to him, the driver was 22-year-old Justin Trammell. Trammell and Johnson reportedly met at Alexander Youth Services Correctional Facility in Alexander, Arkansas, where Trammell was incarcerated after pleading guilty to the 1999 crossbow murder of his father, a crime committed when Trammell was 15. The pair were roommates and provided officers with the same Fayetteville address. Trammel was cited for careless driving and released. Johnson was arrested for possession of marijuana and a loaded weapon and later released on a $1,000 bond. He had a court appearance on January 26, 2007 at the Washington County, Arkansas courthouse.

Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 24, 2007 for possession of a firearm while either using or addicted to a controlled substance. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Arkansas reported that Johnson pleaded not guilty and was released on a $5,000 bond. Johnson's trial began on January 28, 2008. After two days of testimony from the prosecution and the defense witnesses, Johnson was found guilty on a charge of possessing a weapon while being a drug user.^[8] In February 2008, just days after his conviction, Johnson was arrested again, this time for possession of marijuana at the convenience store he worked at and on suspicion of using a stolen credit card.^[9] In September 2008, US District Judge Jimm Larry Hendren sentenced Mitchell Johnson to four years in prison on the weapon and drug charges. In his sentencing, the judge expressed dismay that Johnson had not taken advantage of the chance he had to go straight. He told him "No matter your sentence, you still have a life, those killed in 1998 do not." On October 7, 2008, Johnson pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge and misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Johnson admitted that he stole a debit card left by a disabled man at the Bentonville gas station where he worked and subsequently used it to purchase a meal at a local Burger King. He also admitted that, at the time he was arrested, he was in possession of marijuana.^[10][11] On November 14, 2008, Johnson, now 24 years old, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the theft charge and misdemeanor possession charges. Although Johnson could have faced up to 30 years, the sentence of 12 years was chosen because Johnson technically had no criminal record from the Jonesboro shooting.^[12] On January 23, 2009, Johnson was sentenced to six additional years in prison for an additional charge of theft by receiving and financial identity fraud for using the stolen card to purchase a meal from a local Burger King. Circuit Judge William Storey told Johnson "You continue to run afoul of the law. I am hopeful this is the last time." This brought Johnson's combined state sentences to 18 years.^[13] In February 2010, the Arkansas Supreme Court granted Johnson leave to appeal his sentence, saying that the trial judge should not have admitted evidence of the juvenile convictions during the sentencing phase of the theft and possession trial.^[14] Johnson will have to complete his federal sentence of four years after serving his 18-year state sentence.^[13] He will likely remain incarcerated well into his 30s but is eligible for parole from his Arkansas sentence in 2011 when he will then have to serve his 4 year sentence.^[12]

References

	Arkansas portal
	Biography portal

1. ^ Shooting suspect claims he was molested, Associated Press (reprinted by USA Today)
2. ^ Ark. vows to toughen juvenile sentencing by Carol Morello, USA Today.
3. ^ School shooter free after seven years - Nightly News with Brian Williams - MSNBC.com
4. ^ Westside school shooter released
5. ^ Koon, David (2008-12-11). "Westside killer seeks handgun permit". Arkansas Times. http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=9656fb86-7479-4ec8-88f2-8c7596d09e2e. Retrieved 2008-12-11 
6. ^ KAIT - Jonesboro, AR: Second WestSide Shooter Served
7. ^ http://www.kval.com/news/national/36048684.html
8. ^ Will Carter (January 30, 2008). "Mitchell Johnson Trial Wrap-Up". Jonesboro, Arkansas: KAIT. http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=7799368. 
9. ^ Michelle Bradford (February 6, 2008). "Johnson suspected in theft of debit card" (Northwest Arkansas Edition ed.). Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Archived from the original on 2008-02-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20080216192928/http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/215935/. 
10. ^ "Johnson Pleads Guilty to Theft, Drug Charges". Associated Press. KATV7 News. October 8, 2008. http://www.katv.com/news/stories/1008/559725.html. ^{[dead link]}
11. ^ "Jonesboro shooter pleads guilty to theft". Associated Press. USA Today. October 8, 2008. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-10-08-johnson-plea_N.htm?csp=34. 
12. ^ ^{a b} Jon Gambrell (November 14, 2008). "Jonesboro shooter gets more prison time in Ark.". Associated Press. Fox. Archived from the original on August 27, 2010. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Jonesboro%20shooter%20gets%20more%20prison%20time%20in%20Ark.-a01611715341. 
13. ^ ^{a b} "Ark. school shooter gets extra 6 years for theft". Associated Press. January 23, 2009. Archived from the original on August 27, 2010. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ark.%20school%20shooter%20gets%20extra%206%20years%20for%20theft-a01611776069. 
14. ^ Jill Zeman Bleed (February 12, 2010). "Jonesboro Shooter Can Appeal Theft Plea". Associated Press. Little Rock, Arkansas: Fox. http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/021210-apx-jonesboro-shooter-can-appeal-theft-plea. Retrieved August 27, 2010.