Follow the trial of former prosecutor Mark Johnson here

DOTHAN, Alabama (WTVY) – This story will be updated regularly as the trial begins in Dothan, so check back often.

Just before the holidays in 2021, drug agents conducted a “routine” traffic stop that sent shockwaves through legal circles on the first day of the following year and led to an embarrassing downfall of a prosecutor.

That night, chronic drug addict Jamie Connolly was stopped by DEA agents, and the dominoes began to fall that would ultimately prove fatal for Houston County Assistant District Attorney Mark Johnson.

Nearly three years later, Johnson will finally go on trial on Monday, accused of offering legal favors in exchange for sexual services.

However, it may be difficult for prosecutors, relying on less than stellar witnesses, to reach a guilty verdict – he faces six charges.

Johnson was considered a rising star in Houston County District Attorney Pat Jones' office until police detained Connolly on drug charges. However, unable to pay bail, Connolly wrote to a Houston County judge accusing Johnson of misconduct. From there, Johnson's world began to crumble.

She sent a letter to a Houston County judge describing her cyber affair with Johnson.

After learning of this letter, the Alabama Attorney General's Office investigated Johnson for several months.

Facebook messages obtained by News4 describe flirtations and sexually charged banter before Johnson's relationship with Jamie Connolly ended abruptly with her arrest

“I can't wait to hold you in my arms,” ​​Johnson wrote to Connolly, known online as Jazmine Connolly. The chatter between Johnson and Connolly quickly escalated into sexual innuendo, with each expressing a desire to date the other.

However, nothing in their conversation suggests that Johnson knew that Connolly was in his courtroom awaiting trial.

According to text messages Connolly provided to News4, the cyber romance began in late October.

In the first week of November, Connolly wrote: “I just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you. I think maybe we should meet up this weekend if you don't have anything planned.”

Shortly after their messages apparently led to a sexual adventure, officers found drugs in Connolly's car after a traffic stop.

Although Connolly was not arrested immediately, she was eventually detained by drug agents. It was then that she wrote the letter describing her sordid relationship with Johnson, who was married.

Their last conversation apparently took place on January 10, when Connolly said to Johnson, “I want to see you,” and he replied, “Me too.”

The following day, Connolly was arrested by police on charges of possessing heroin and marijuana and dealing methamphetamine, but prosecutors unrelated to Johnson's case dropped those charges.

But long before that, Connolly, unable to post bail, had written a letter to Houston County District Judge Kevin Moulton describing her relationship with Johnson.

Ironically, Johnson is not being charged for his relationship with Connolly, who shuttles between different treatment centers, but instead for other women, some of whom have previous criminal records, which could call their credibility into question during Johnson's trial, which could last several days.

Johnson lost his job as prosecutor after the indictment in 2022 and will almost certainly lose his license to practice law if convicted.

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