Man believed to have helped Young Dolph suspect escape enters guilty plea

Jermarcus Johnson, the man who officials say delivered money and helped two men believed to be involved in the killing of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, entered a plea deal in court Friday morning.

Johnson, 26, pleaded guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact and faces 6 to 12 years for all of the charges. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10. He was the first of the four defendants to have their criminal case disposed.

Johnson was indicted on conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in November 2022 and turned himself in about a week later.

Additional charges came during a Wednesday court appearance when prosecutors filed to have three counts of accessory after the fact added to the list of charges. Accessory after the fact is a class E felony and each count carries between one to six years in prison.

His conspiracy charge carried a sentence of up to 60 years. That charge was dropped when Johnson entered the guilty plea.

Johnson's next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 10, which could be when he is sentenced, though both prosecutors and his defense attorney indicated it could be pushed back based on the status of the other three defendants. If those cases go to trial, Johnson may be called to testify for the prosecution.

The plea deal also lowered his bail from $300,000 to $25,000. If he posts bail, he has to abide by a curfew that would have him home between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., is subject to programs recommended by pretrial services — including random drug testing — and cannot have a gun.

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.

"It's typical in conspiracy cases, as the litigation proceeds, that you'll figure out more and more, and get a clearer picture of what each individual did in this conspiracy," said Paul Hagerman, an assistant district attorney in the Shelby County District Attorney's Office. "With regards to Jermarcus Johnson, he had no role in the murder of Dolph before it happened. He had no role in the murder of Dolph when it happened. It was about a week or so after the murder of Dolph that he met with his brother, Justin Johnson."

Young Dolph: Looking back on the life and legacy of Memphis rapper a year after his death

Hagerman added that Jermarcus Johnson has "been 100% helpful" to investigators, including that he turned over the phone his brother gave him. Hagerman added the phone "has evidence in the case."

Johnson did not have a criminal record prior to his indictment in the Young Dolph investigation, according to statements from both defense attorneys and prosecutors inside the courtroom. His attorney, Josh Corman, said he thinks Johnson is "happy" to have the opportunity to be released prior to his sentencing.

"I think he's happy to the extent that this is a chance that he will be released now, and kind of put it behind him even though there's still a long way to go on this case. But at least for what's going on right now, certainly, that's a change," Corman told reporters after the court appearance. "Here's a kid who had never been in trouble before — he has no criminal record whatsoever. And then you get locked up, you're in protective custody, which is pretty much like being in isolation, for the last seven months...Certainly, he is glad to get back with his family, get out of protective custody."

Two men were initially arrested in connection to Young Dolph's killing. Justin Johnson and Smith are believed by officials to have been the two men to carry out the shooting on Nov. 17, 2021, outside Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies on Airways Boulevard.

After Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith's arrests, a fourth man — Hernandez Govan — was arrested and indicted for conspiracy. Conspiracy charges were also added to Johnson and Smith's indictments.

Govan is believed to have organized the killing, and asked Justin Johnson and Smith to take part, stemming back to June 1, 2021. A motive for the conspiracy has not been made public by prosecutors or investigators. Govan was given a lower bail amount in early May due to declining health, and he has been under "alternative restriction and supervision" until his trial.

Specifics of Govan's supervision outside of jail have been sealed "for security reasons."

Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Man accused of helping Young Dolph suspect escape enters plea deal