A school board member in Johnston County, North Carolina, has been sentenced to prison following his conviction on multiple charges, including extortion and obstruction of justice. Ronald Lee Johnson Jr., once seen as a rising Republican figure, was handed a 6 to 17-month prison sentence for felony obstruction and placed on probation for additional charges.
Superior Court Judge Joseph Crosswhite announced the sentencing after a jury found Johnson guilty on four counts Friday. The charges included felony extortion, obstruction of justice, and failure to discharge duties. The court also ordered Johnson’s removal from the Johnston County school board and revoked his law enforcement certification.
Extortion Charges Linked to Congressional Candidate
The extortion conviction stems from allegations that Johnson attempted to blackmail DeVan Barbour, a Republican congressional candidate, during the 2022 primary race. Prosecutors argued that Johnson threatened to release compromising audio of Barbour unless he persuaded a woman to falsely deny an extramarital affair with Johnson.
Barbour, who later lost his congressional bid, testified during the trial that Johnson’s threats caused him significant distress, prompting repeated attempts to secure a denial from the woman.
On the stand, Johnson denied the allegations, claiming he had informed Barbour about the recording to help him. Johnson’s attorney, Amos Tyndall, maintained that his client never publicly released the audio or made statements against Barbour.
Obstruction of Justice and Misconduct
The obstruction charge arose from allegations that Johnson removed potential evidence from a gym office during the investigation. Meanwhile, the two counts of failure to discharge duties involved secret recordings of closed school board sessions and retaliatory actions against a former friend.
Johnson was accused of attempting to transfer the friend’s children to another school district out of spite. These actions had previously led the Johnston County school board to censure Johnson for misconduct.
Prosecution and Sentencing
Special state prosecutor Boz Zellinger argued that Johnson’s actions left “a wake of destruction” and called for active prison time. Judge Crosswhite concurred, citing the severity of Johnson’s behavior.
In addition to the prison sentence and probation, the court stripped Johnson of his position on the school board and barred him from future roles in law enforcement.
Fall from Grace
Johnson, 41, was once celebrated as a rising star in local politics and narrowly secured reelection to the Johnston County school board in November. However, his tenure ended in scandal, with accusations of blackmail, retaliation, and misconduct tarnishing his reputation.