James Johnson case at a glance

A look at key dates and events in the case of James Johnson, charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder in the June 28, 2004, death of Brittany Tyler Willis.*

June 28, 2004

Brittany Tyler Willis, 17, is kidnapped from Brentwood Shopping Center in Wilson, raped, shot and left in a field less than a mile away.

July 1
James Johnson, 18, turns in Kenneth Meeks, 16, to police.

July 2
Johnson is arrested and jailed under a $1 million bond on charges of first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, rape and murder. Johnny Gaskins is appointed Johnson's public defender.

Police also arrest Meeks on the same charges and Julian Tyson Deans, 19, on a charge of accessory after the fact to murder. Each is jailed under a $1 million bond.

Nov. 1
Deans' bond is reduced to $60,000.

Dec. 14
The state appoints Rosemary Godwin as Johnson's second public defender, standard in cases where the death penalty is possible.

April 4
Johnson and Meeks are indicted on one count each of first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, rape and murder. Deans is indicted on one count of accessory after the fact to murder.

April 10, 2006
Meeks pleads guilty to first-degree murder and is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Dec. 29
The state announces it will not seek the death penalty against Johnson.

January 2007
Rosemary Godwin becomes Johnson's sole counsel, which is standard in cases where the death penalty is no longer an option.

Jan. 25
Godwin, also handling a high-profile double murder case in Chapel Hill, requests a second public defender be assigned to the case.

April 24
In a letter to The Wilson Daily Times, Meeks writes that he "committed the crime alone" and that Johnson is innocent.

May 7
A trial date is set for July 23, as agreed upon by Godwin and Assistant District Attorney Bill Wolfe.

May 16
U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield says Johnson is being denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial and that he is being punished in the meantime.

May 26
More than 100 people, including the president of the state chapter of the NAACP, rally in front of the Wilson County courthouse, demanding Johnson's release.

June 12
Godwin files a motion to continue the trial, saying she is tied up with a Wake County capital case and that prosecutors have been slow to provide her discovery materials in Johnson's case. A judge denies the request.

July 16
The North Carolina Court of Appeals reverses the June 12 court order denying a continuance.

July 30
Godwin says there is a scheduling conflict with Johnson's trial and another high-profile trial in Orange County – both scheduled the week of Sept. 24.

Sept. 7
The state NAACP files a complaint with the North Carolina State Bar accusing Wolfe and District Attorney Howard Boney of prosecutorial misconduct in the case.

Sept. 16
More than 100 people rally at a Wilson church, calling for the district attorney to drop charges against Johnson.

Sept. 24
The state and defense file a joint motion to continue the trial. The motion is granted. Johnson's bond is lowered to $60,000, and he is released.

Oct. 12
Forsyth County Assistant District Attorney Belinda Foster is appointed as a special prosecutor to review the case.

Nov. 12
In an interview with WRAL News, Johnson, now 21, says he was surprised that he was charged in Willis' death and that he is glad Meeks is no longer lying. According to court documents, Meeks had told police that Johnson killed Willis, but he later recanted, saying he had implicated Johnson because Johnson turned him in.

Dec. 7
Butterfield calls for a federal probe into the Johnson case.

Dec. 19
Citing a lack of evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Johnson was involved in Willis' kidnapping, rape and death, Foster dismisses all charges against Johnson. He is re-charged, however, as an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

Dec. 29
In a letter to The Wilson Daily Times, Willis' parents write that they are disappointed that the criminal case surrounding their daughter's death has become more about political motives and race than about justice.

Jan. 4, 2008
During Johnson's probable-cause hearing, more than 300 people come to the Wilson County Courthouse in support of the Willis family.

Jan. 11
More than 400 people turn out for a vigil for Willis.

Jan. 14
Johnson is indicted on the accessory charge.

Feb. 15
In an exclusive interview with Fox 50's NC Wanted, Meeks says he wrote his letter professing Johnson's innocence after "reading the newspaper, and seeing how they kept putting (Johnson) down when he was trying to build himself up and move on from this situation."

March 12
Retired District Attorney David McFadyen is appointed special prosecutor in the case.

May 17
In an interview with NC Wanted, Gaskins says Johnson's actions in Willis' slaying were illegal and that he believes it would be wise to strike a plea deal and avoid a trial.

July 8
Johnson tells WRAL News that he has filed a grievance with the North Carolina State Bar against Gaskins for the May 17 statements.

Nov. 26
Superior Court Judge Milton Fitch orders jury selection to begin Feb. 9, 2009, with the pool of potential jurors coming from Edgecombe County because of pretrial publicity.

Feb. 9, 2009
Jury selection begins.

Feb. 12
Twelve jurors and three alternate jurors are seated.

Feb. 16
Johnson pleads guilty under an Alford plea "attempted misprision of a felony," which is failing to notify authorities of a crime. Fitch gives Johnson a prayer for judgment continued, meaning the court does not impose a punishment and Johnson will not face additional jail time.

^*All information is based on public record, WRAL News and NC Wanted reports.