Ex-prosecutor in Ahmaud Arbery case charged with misconduct and accused of shielding defendants in the killing

• A former Georgia prosecutor involved in the Ahmaud Arbery case was indicted, the AP reported Thursday.
• Jackie Johnson was charged with a felony count of violating her oath of office and hindering a law enforcement officer.
• She is accused of using her position to protect the men charged with chasing and killing Arbery.

A former Georgia prosecutor accused of shielding the men charged with killing Ahmaud Arbery is now facing charges of her own.

Jackie Johnson was indicted on criminal misconduct charges Thursday for favoring the defendants in the case, Greg and Travis McMichael, the Associated Press reported.

The charges include a felony count of violating her oath of office and hindering a law enforcement officer, the AP reported.

The indictment comes amid allegations that she used her position to protect the McMichaels, who are accused of chasing and killing Arbery while he was jogging in their neighborhood on Feb. 23, 2020.

Johnson showed "favor and affection" to one of the men accused and interfered at the scene after the fatal shooting, telling police that one of the defendants shouldn't be arrested, the indictment alleged.

The charges are a result of an investigation requested by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr that looked into her and other local prosecutors' handling of Arbery's death.

The family said Friday Johnson 'played a starring role in the cover-up'

At a press conference Friday, Benjamin Crump, an attorney representing Arbery's parents, said he welcomed the indictment.

"Former DA Johnson may have not pulled the trigger on the day Ahmaud was murdered, but she played a starring role in the coverup," he said.

Lee Merritt, another attorney for the family, said he hoped that Carr's investigation would result in charges against Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Barnhill, who Merrit alleged coordinated with Johnson to deny Arbery justice.

"We look forward to making sure that George Barnhill is investigated thoroughly and we have justice for this family on all levels," Merritt said.

Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arbery's mother, said Carr had kept her abreast of updates throughout the investigation.

"Attorney General Carr, he kept in close contact with me," she said. "He assured to me he would bring Johnson to justice."

"Losing Ahmaud, it will change things here in the state of Georgia," she added.