Nico Johnson Update- Not Guilty!

Photo credit: Jay Hare, Dothan Eagle

Its not in the online version of the Andalusia Star News, but the paper has a story today stating Nico was found innocent of the harassment charges placed against him earlier this month.  My earlier complaint was the Star News was silent on this matter, potentially harming Nico, but now they have spoken.

I spoke to one of the local football guys about Nico last week and he stated the charges were without merit, a big misunderstanding.  He did say the charges caused Nico to speed up his plans to go to Tuscaloosa and attend summer school and to get out of Andalusia and get under the umbrella of the Tide’s coaching staff and avoid anymore small town ya-ya stuff.

Interestingly enough in the paper, the last paragraph was a quote from Nico saying he was looking forward to being in summer school in Tuscaloosa.  Smart move.  Good kid, good family, bright future.

Nico Johnson- No Coverage by Hometown Paper

Photo credit: Jay Hare, Dothan Eagle

Nico Johnson is a great kid.  Quiet, unassuming, not a showboat or a kid with a bad attitude.  I know his mom and she raised an outstanding young man.  When his lawyer in the following article says,

“He is a very fine young man,” Jones said. “He is a polite, gentle person, almost too passive. This is out of (Johnson’s) character for someone to allege this.

“When someone first told me, I was like, ‘Are you talking about Nico Johnson? Are you kidding?’”

The lawyer, John Jones, is not just huffin’ and puffin’ for the press.  If John Jones says it, believe it.  Let me repeat: Nico is a good guy and I doubt he is guilty of these harassment charges.  Also, the story makes me wonder if there would have been charges except that Nico is going to Alabama this fall and is a big-time recruit.  The Andalusia Star News says it was a “verbal, non-physical altercation with another male.” My guess is some wise guy was messing with Nico and he told him to stick it.

My question is why the Star News silence except for the police blotter entry?  Shoot, if I’m going to be arrested every time I have a verbal, non-physical altercation with another male, they’re gonna have to put a revolving door on the Covington County jail.  Just this morning, arguing with insurance adjusters and lawyers, I think I’ve had at least five verbal, non-physical altercations with another male.

The least the Star News could do is to cover the story so Nico doesn’t get a bad rap in the insane, sports crazed State of Alabama where the rumor mill and the nutty forum boards will have him in prison for murder by sundown.  When he’s cleared, I hope the Star News will speak up.

Meanwhile, if Nico does what I think he is capable of at Alabama and beyond, this probably won’t be the first time somebody tries to yank his chain or try to get a rise out of him.

No celebrity, no case.

So, since there is no Star-News coverage of an Andalusia story, I give you the Dothan Eagle account:

By David Mundee

Published: May 8, 2009

Andalusia two-sport standout and University of Alabama football signee Nico Johnson faces “a verbal, non-physical” misdemeanor harassment charge in Andalusia following an alleged exchange this week with another male.

Johnson, who is scheduled to report to Alabama later this month, turned himself in to police Tuesday after a warrant was issued by the local court magistrate following a complaint.

He posted a $500 bond, according to a published report on al.com. A preliminary court date of May 18 has been set at Andalusia Municipal Court, said Johnson’s attorney, John Jones, of Jones & Jones in Andalusia.

“He has entered a not guilty plea,” said Jones. “He has waived his arraignment, so we can try to speed up the process.”

The charge is a Class C misdemeanor offense, which by state law is punishable by “no more than three months in jail and no more than a $500 fine.”

Johnson has been a four-year standout in football and basketball at Andalusia. A 6-foot-3, 235-pounder, he starred at linebacker in football and as a forward-center in basketball. He signed to play football at Alabama this past winter.

Michael Johnson, Johnson’s older brother, said he believes the issue is “blown out of proportion.”

“It is all false accusations and I feel all the problems will be worked out in the next day or two,” Johnson said Friday.
Jones also felt Johnson would be cleared.

“From what I understand, it seems to be a misunderstanding that has been blown out of proportion,” Jones said. “I am confident Nico will be exonerated.”

Johnson’s brother said he could not go into details of the incident other than to verify that it happened Sunday in Andalusia with another Andalusia High student. He added Nico Johnson has been advised not to talk about the incident.

Andalusia head basketball coach Richard Robertson also declined to talk about the issue, citing it was a non-school issue since it happened away from the campus and on non-school time.

Jones, Johnson’s lawyer, also did not go into details of the incident.

“I have not looked at the complaint, but I have talked to Nico and he denies the charge,” Jones said.

Michael Johnson said Alabama head football Nick Saban has been made aware of the situation.

Jones said he has known Nico Johnson all of Johnson’s life and expressed “shock” at the allegation.

“He is a very fine young man,” Jones said. “He is a polite, gentle person, almost too passive. This is out of (Johnson’s) character for someone to allege this.

“When someone first told me, I was like, ‘Are you talking about Nico Johnson? Are you kidding?’”

Johnson was a three-time all-state selection in both football and basketball and was honorable mention all-state football as a freshman.
This past year, he earned first-team all-state in both sports from the Alabama Sports Writers Association and was one of three finalists for Class 4A state player of the year honors in basketball.

In football, he finished with 110 tackles — 11.0 a game — with two sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt. In basketball, he averaged 20.1 points, 16.3 rebounds and 4.1 blocks a game this past season, helping the Bulldogs finish 26-3 and reach the Class 4A state Final Four in Birmingham.

For his career, Johnson made 425 tackles in football from his freshman to senior seasons, including 12 quarterback sacks, while causing 10 fumbles and recovering eight fumbles. He also blocked four punts and a PAT attempt.

In basketball, Johnson finished his Andalusia career with 18.7 points, 15.4 rebounds and 4.0 blocks a game. He was a four-year captain, the first ever in Robertson’s 34-year coaching career at AHS.