Johnston County DA now investigating school board member Ronald Johnson
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Sex, blackmail and local politics: The extortion trial of JoCo school board member Ronald Johnson
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Johnston County District Attorney Susan Doyle has launched an investigation into school board member and former Smithfield Police detective Ronald Johnson.
Johnson was fired from the Smithfield Police Department on Oct. 14 due to what town officials called his “detrimental personal conduct.” The Johnston County school board has publicly censured Johnson twice and asked Doyle to try to remove Johnson from office after he refused to resign his board seat.
Johnson is accused of actions such as sending inappropriate texts and using police equipment for personal use.
“The Johnston County District Attorney’s Office has received materials from several different agencies, groups, and individuals regarding former Smithfield Police Department Detective and Johnston County School Board member Ronald Johnson,” Doyle told the JoCo Report.
“After an initial review of this information, I have requested a thorough and complete investigation be conducted to determine if further actions are warranted against Mr. Johnson. I ask for the public’s patience as my office works through this process.”
Doyle said in an email Monday to The News & Observer that she can’t provide further comment because the investigation is ongoing.
Johnson did not immediately return an email Monday from The N&O requesting comment.
Public censure
Johnson has been facing intense scrutiny since Smithfield Police launched an internal investigation into the 17-year police officer in July.
Amid the town’s investigation, the school board voted 6-1 on Aug. 24 to censure Johnson on accusations of violating board policy by secretly recording conversations among board members. He also is accused of trying to have two special-education students removed from a school due to his personal issues with a parent.
On Oct. 6, the board again voted 6-1 to censure Johnson for violating school policy by sending texts during school board meetings about wanting to have a relationship with a female school employee.
Johnson has admitted sending the texts and called them a “lapse of judgment.”
Smithfield Town Manager Michael Scott cited the texts in his notice firing Johnson.
In the termination notice, Scott told Johnson he was being fired for actions such as sending inappropriate texts of a sexual nature, using Police Department equipment for non-police matters and not being truthful about a harassment order he had filed.
Future school board chair?
Johnson was first elected to the school board in 2016. He was reelected in 2020. His term runs until 2024.
Johnson has previously accused school district leaders of engaging in corrupt behavior. He spearheaded a new district policy that puts rules on how teachers can discuss race and racism. For instance, the policy says students can’t be taught that racism is a permanent part of American life.
Johnson, a Republican, has been working with a group of conservative school board candidates to get them elected this year. Audio recordings played on a Facebook Live broadcast last week show Johnson talking about becoming school board chairman after the election.
This story was originally published October 31, 2022 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Johnston County DA now investigating school board member Ronald Johnson."
