Ex-candidate pleads guilty to drug charge

8/5/2003

LIMA, Ohio — A former political candidate pleaded guilty yesterday in Allen County Common Pleas Court to a charge of possession of marijuana.

In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped a charge of trafficking in marijuana against David Johnson, 59. Johnson was arrested in May following a raid at his Shawnee Township home. At the time, authorities said they confiscated drugs with a value of $17,000.

Johnson, who faces up to five years in prison, will be sentenced Sept. 5. He also must pay a mandatory $10,000 fine.

He appeared on the 1996 Allen County ballot as a candidate for clerk of court.