Former Georgia District Attorney faces five years in prison for 'protecting Gregory McMichael' after Ahmaud Arbery shooting Jackie Johnson, a former Georgia District Attorney, is facing five years in prison The Georgia Bureau of Investigation indicted Johnson for violating her oath of office and obstructing law enforcement back in September Prosecutors claim she directed the Glynn County Police Department not to arrest Travis McMichael after he fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery in February 2020 The indictment alleges she steered the investigation to nearby Waycross Judicial Circuit DA George Barnhill after she recused herself from the case Greg McMichael, Travis' father, had worked in her office as an investigator until he retired in 2019 She reportedly told Barnhill about the case, and in the aftermath he wrote that the three men who chased Arbery before they shot him did nothing wrong Arbery's family claims that delayed the arrest of Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Bryan Jr. by 74 days By Melissa Koenig For Dailymail.Com Published: 15:58 GMT, 5 December 2021 | Updated: 15:58 GMT, 5 December 2021 Viewcomments Former Brunswick District Attorney Jackie Johnson was indicted in September for obstructing justice in the Ahmaud Arbery case, and faces five years in prison A former Georgia District Attorney is facing five years in prison for allegedly helping to protect Gregory McMichael after his son fatally shot 25-year-old black jogger Ahmaud Arbery. According to an indictment filed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation back in September, Brunswick District Attorney Jackie Johnson violated her oath of office and obstructed law enforcement following the deadly shooting in February 2020. It alleges that after his son, Travis, fatally shot Arbery, Greg McMichael called Johnson's cellphone - having worked in her office as an investigator until he retired in 2019 - and said: 'Jackie this is Greg. Could you call me as soon as you possibly can. 'My [inaudible] and I have been involved in a shooting and I need some advice right away.' Officers with the Glynn County Police Department investigating the killing also reportedly called Johnson for advice on what to doin the aftermath, according to CNN, and Johnson allegedly 'directed that Travis McMichael should not be placed under arrest, contrary to the laws of the State.' The indictment further claims Johnson violated her oath of office 'by showing favor and affection to Greg McMichael during the investigation into the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery.' She could face five years in prison if convicted by a jury. Gregory McMichael was found guilty last week in the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery. He had worked as an investigator for Johnson until he retired in 2019 According to the indictment, which was handed down by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on September 2, Johnson steered the investigation to nearby Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Barnhill after she recused herself from the case due to her connections with McMichael. She then recommended to the Georgia Attorney General's Office that Barnhill handle the case, allegedly without disclosing that she had already discussed the case with Barnhill. Afterward, Barnhill sent a letter to the Glynn County Police Department, saying that in his legal opinion the chase of Arbery by three armed men in pickup trucks is 'perfectly legal under Georgia law.' He concluded: 'We do not see grounds for an arrest of any of the three parties.' Arbery's family claims that delayed the arrest of Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Bryan Jr.'s arrest by 74 days. They were all found guilty last week of fatally shooting Arbery. Supporters of Arbery's family also believe that could have ended the investigation if William Bryan Jr.'s video of the incident did not go viral in May 2020. Gregory's son Travis, left, fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery when he was out for a jog in 2020 Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Barnhill reportedly wrote following the shooting that the three men who followed Arbery when he was out for a jog and shot him did not violate Georgia state law In the outrage, CNN reports, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp had the Georgia Bureau of Investigation take over, and they looked into allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, before handing down their indictment. Johnson turned herself into the Glynn County Jail on September 8, CNN reports, and she was free in less than an hour without having to pay a bond. Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones applauded the indictment in early September, saying Johnson 'didn't pull the trigger, but she is just as much to hold accountable as the three guys who actually did this to Ahmaud.' But Johnson has denied any wrongdoing, instead telling her constituents that she was being falsely accused. 'This case is a terrible tragedy for the community,' she said in an October debate to retain her seat as DA. 'It is a tragedy for the family. 'I'm sorry how things happened. I'm sorry that a lie got started and I could not turn it back.' She was voted out of office in November. The Georgia Attorney General said the investigation is ongoing. 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