The Aiken man accused of shooting and killing Kenneth Jones last Halloween once faced two charges of attempted murder and could have been sentenced to more than 70 years in prison.
Jemaurea Johnson, 20, of Aiken, was charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of pointing and presenting a firearm and discharging a firearm within city limits on Jan. 2, 2022.
Johnson's charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on Dec. 19, 2021.
Two vehicles collided in the parking lot of the Sunoco gas station located on the corner of York Street and Rudy Mason Parkway, Aiken Department of Public Safety Officer J.D. Drayton said in a police report.
Multiple witnesses told officers Johnson exited one of the cars involved and fired four shots at the two juvenile females in the other car before fleeing the scene, Drayton alleged.
If he had been convicted on these charges, Johnson faced up to 70 years and 30 days in prison.
Attempted murder is a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison according to the South Carolina Code of Laws. Pointing and presenting is also a felony and it is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Discharging a firearm within city limits is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $500 fine.
However, Johnson pleaded guilty to lesser charges on Oct. 11, 2022, according to South Carolina court records.
Specifically, Johnson pleaded to charges of discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle, one count of pointing and presenting, unlawfully carrying a pistol, malicious damage of less than $2,000 to property and discharging a firearm within the city according to South Carolina court records.
Judge Roger Young Sr. sentenced Johnson to a total of three years in prison with credit for 283 days served according to South Carolina court records.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections released Johnson on Sept. 1, 2023 according to Deputy Solicitor Ashley Hammack.
The department of corrections classifies the offenses Johnson pleaded guilty to as non-violent offenses which made him eligible for parole after serving one-third of his sentence, Hammack said.
Hammack added Johnson could have received work or educational credits and accelerated his release even more.
