Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the conviction of a former Houston County District Attorney on ethics charges. Mark Johnson, 55, was found guilty on Thursday by a Houston County jury that returned a total of six guilty verdicts against him. Johnson, according to Marshall’s office, reportedly used his position as a county prosecutor to solicit and receive sexual favors from three defendants.

“This is a clear case of someone habitually using their position to exploit vulnerable women for his own gratification,” Marshall said. “Mr. Johnson violated the public trust by taking advantage of the community he swore to serve and protect, and he now must be held accountable for his crimes.”

Johnson solicited an escort from a defendant facing life in prison for a drug trafficking charge. He later solicited that same defendant for another girl who had just been released from prison.

Additionally, Johnson solicited and received a sexual photo, and in exchange, helped a female defendant stay out of court-ordered drug rehabilitation so that he could continue to communicate with her in Houston County.

In another instance, he solicited sexual photos and sexual contact, then helped a female defendant avoid active warrants and fine deadlines that resulted from convictions over which he was the prosecutor.

Johnson was taken into custody following his conviction.

The former prosecutor now faces possible sentences of two to 20 years for each conviction with sentencing currently set for a later date.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten