Man who helped Young Dolph murder suspects escape avoids prison, sentenced

Jermarcus Johnson, the man who pleaded guilty last year to assisting Young Dolph’s alleged killers escape Memphis, will spend no time in prison.

Instead, a judge ruled he will spend the next six years on diversion, which is a type of probation. At the end of that diversion, the charge will be dismissed and can be expunged from his record.

During that six-year probationary period, he will have to complete 20 hours of community service a year, continue to have drug screens, will not be allowed to possess a firearm, must take a parenting class and will have a career course to take.

Johnson’s sentencing came Friday morning, just over two months after his half-brother, Justin Johnson, was convicted of killing the Memphis rapper.

Jermarcus Johnson pleaded guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact in June 2023. The plea deal reduced his bail amount and he has been out of custody while waiting for his sentencing.

Jermarcus Johnson, who is accused of aiding in the hide out and escape of Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith after they shot rapper Young Dolph, answers a question from Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman on the stand at the Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, June 9, 2023.

He was initially indicted for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in November 2022 and turned himself in about a week later. The charge was dropped with his plea deal.

He was facing a maximum of 12 years in prison for the accessory charges.

Johnson testified during his brother’s murder trial in September.

“In light of his very, very limited role, in light of the fact that he has no criminal record that’s been certified by the [Tennessee Bureau of Investigation], in light of the fact that he testified truthfully at trial… the state and the defense would recommend that your honor place him on six years diversion,” Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman said in court Friday.

What was Jermarcus Johnson accused of?

Prosecutors have said Johnson helped one of the other men charged in connecting with the killing, his half-brother Justin Johnson, hide and escape after the shooting and that he facilitated the payments for Young Dolph’s killing. They have also said his role was “much lesser” than the three other men indicted for the conspiracy.

That role, according to prosecutors, included Jermarcus Johnson receiving a phone and a car, though not the same one seen on security camera footage of the shooting, from Justin Johnson. Jermarcus Johnson is said to have helped his half-brother spoof his parole officer during regularly scheduled parole calls.

Jermarcus Johnson also pleaded guilty to facilitating phone calls between Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith, the other alleged shooter.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Young Dolph murder: Man who helped suspects escape avoids prison time

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