Robert Johnson (prison officer)

Robert Johnson (born 1953) is a retired South Carolina Department of Corrections Captain and United States Air Force veteran.[2][3][4] He was a guard at the Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina, where he oversaw efforts to stop contraband cellphones and drugs.[5]

Robert Johnson
Born1953 (age 69–70)
Delray Beach, Florida[1]
NationalityAmerican
OccupationConsultant

Air Force service

He joined the Air Force as a military policeman and retired after 20 years as a master sergeant. He was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Shaw Air Force Base, Ellsworth Air Force Base and Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.

Attempted assassination

On the morning of March 5, 2010, Johnson was the victim of a hit orchestrated by criminals within Lee Correctional Institution. That morning, a gunman broke into Johnson's home and shot him six times with a .38 caliber revolver in the stomach and chest before leaving him for dead. Johnson's wife, Mary, was home but uninjured.[4]

Johnson was targeted by prisoners at the facility as retaliation for stopping contraband items such as drugs and cell phones from entering the prison.[6][7] Following the shooting, Johnson began advocating for cell phone blocking technology in prisons around the country.[8] In 2014, Sean Echols was charged for his role in the attempted murder.[4]

Advocacy

In 2017, Johnson testified before the Federal Communications Commission prior to their vote approving the streamlining of processes required use technology to block and detect contraband phones in prisons.[9]

References
  1. Shepard, Willard. "Ex-Corrections Officer Works to Disconnect Inmates' Cell Phones". NBC Miami.
  2. Dubensky, Bill. "South Carolina Correctional Officer Pushes for Technology to Jam Cell Signals From Prisons". South Carolina Radio Network.
  3. Thomas, Pierre; Krolowitz, Ben. "Calling UP Hits: Cell Phones Used Behind Bars".
  4. Monk, John. "Federal Judge Gives Would-Be Assassin 20 Years in Plot to Kill S.C. Prison Guard Captain". The State.
  5. Barr, Jody. "Former Officer Survives "Hit", Takes Story to Washington". WISTV 10.
  6. "Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Murder-for-Hire in Shooting of Correctional Officer". The Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  7. Smith, Glenn. "Shooting Victime Reaches Milestone Ex-Corrections Captain Attends Arraignment in Murder Plot Case". The Post and Courier.
  8. Brown, Angela. "Former Corrections Officer Shot 6 Times Now Working to Stop Prisoners Using Cell Phones". ABC News 4 Charleston.
  9. Kinnard, Meg. "FCC Approves Measures Intended to Combat Prison Cellphones". U.S. News.
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