StateofMinnesota

CountyofHennepin

DistrictCourt
4thJudicialDistrict
ProsecutorFileNo.
CourtFileNo.

StateofMinnesota,

15A50871
27-CR-16-33299

COMPLAINT

Plaintiff,

Summons

vs.
TIMOTHYDAVIDJOHNSONDOB:01/07/1977
6105Vicksburg
Plymouth,MN55446
Defendant.
The Complainant submits this complaint to the Court and states that there is probable cause to believe
Defendantcommittedthefollowingoffense(s):
COUNTI
Charge:NeglectofaChild-LikelySubst.HarmPhysical/EmotHealth-G
MinnesotaStatute:609.378.1(a)(1),withreferenceto:609.378.1(a)(1)
MaximumSentence:1YEARAND/OR$3,000
OffenseLevel:GrossMisdemeanor
OffenseDate(onorabout):03/29/2015
Control#(ICR#):15013935
Charge Description: That on or about 3/29/2015, in Hennepin County, Minnesota, TIMOTHY DAVID
JOHNSON, a parent, legal guardian or caretaker of a child, Victim A, did willfully deprive the child of
necessary food, clothing, shelter, health care, or supervision appropriate to the child's age, when
TIMOTHY DAVID JOHNSON was reasonably able to make the necessary provisions and which
deprivationharmedorwaslikelytosubstantiallyharmthechild'sphysical,emotional,ormentalhealth.

STATEMENTOFPROBABLECAUSE

Complainanthasinvestigatedthefactsandcircumstancesofthisoffenseandbelievesthefollowing
establishesprobablecause:
OnMonday,March30,2015,atapproximately7:41a.m.,PlymouthPoliceOfficersrespondedtoa
residenceonVicksburgLaneN.intheCityofPlymouth,CountyofHennepinandStateofMinnesotain
responsetoareportofachildnotbreathing.Uponarrival,officerslocatedaseven-year-oldmale,
hereinafterVictimA,onthebathroomfloor.VictimAsfather,TIMOTHYDAVIDJOHNSON,DOB1/7/1977,
theDefendantherein,wasperformingCPR.VictimAsmother,SARAHNICOLEJOHNSON,DOB
1/10/1978,waspresentinthehome.EMSpersonnelarrivedonscene.VictimAwaspronounceddeadat
thehomeat8:05a.m.
HennepinCountySherriffsCrimeLabprocessedthesceneandphotographedVictimA.VictimAhad
multiplebruisesandbreaksonhisskinonthemajorityofhisbody.Specifically,hehadbruisingonhis
cheek,forearms,chest,buttocks,andlowerabdomen.VictimAalsohadtwolargelesionsonthebackof
eachheelthatwereconsistentwithpressureulcers.Pressureulcerswouldnottypicallybepresentifachild
ismobile.TheHennepinCountyMedicalExaminersOfficeconductedanautopsyonMarch30,2015.The
pathologistdeterminedthatthecauseofVictimAsdeathwasacutepancreatitisandpossiblesepsis.In
additiontocontusionsandabrasions,thepathologistnotedmultipleblistersonVictimAslegsthatwere
consistentwithbullousimpetigo.VictimAwasinthe5thpercentileforage,andhisBodyMassIndexwas
inthe6thpercentileforhisage.
ThemedicalrecordsforVictimAarelimited.VictimAunderwentawell-childexamatagethree.Atthat
time,VictimAwasinfostercareandwasplacedintheJOHNSONShome.SARAHNICOLEJOHNSON
reportednoconcernsforVictimAshealthanddescribedVictimAasabrightchild.Thepediatricianatthat
timenotedthatVictimAsphysicalexamwasunremarkableandthatVictimAwasathriving,conversant
preschooler.TheJOHNSONSadoptedVictimAatagefourandhomeschooledthechild.VictimAwas
nextexaminedatagefive.Theexamwas,again,unremarkable.VictimAwasnotedtobeneurologically
normalandtheJOHNSONSnotednoconcernsaboutVictimAsdevelopment,includingnourinary
concerns.
IninterviewswithlawenforcementandtheMedicalExaminersOffice,theJOHNSONSnotedsubstantial
changesinVictimAsbehaviorintheweeksleadinguptohisdeath.AccordingtotheJOHNSONS,Victim
AstoppedsleepingsometimearoundthefirstweekofMarchandwouldoccasionallyshake.VictimA
developedtheblistersandmarkingsonhislegsincludingthelesionsonhisheels.Neitherparentcould
adviselawenforcementhowtheseinjuriesdevelopedexcepttosaythatVictimAwasalwayshurting
himself.AccordingtotheJOHNSONS,VictimAwasthrowinghimselfdownthestairsandhittinghishead.
VictimAstartedtoslowhiseating,andmealswouldtakeacouplehours.
TheJOHNSONSacknowledgedthat,despitethemyriadofconcerningbehavioralchanges,theynever
tookVictimAtoadoctorbecausetheyhadissueswithgoingtodoctors.Theywereconcernedthata
doctorwouldputVictimAonmedicationsandbelievedthattheygotbetterinformationfromtheirown
research.Relyingontheirpersonalresearch,theJOHNSONSdiagnosedVictimAwithpost-traumatic
stressdisorderandatraumaticbraininjury.TheJOHNSONSstatedthatVictimAhadpreviouslybeen
diagnosedwithfetalalcoholsyndromeandreactiveattachmentdisorder,buttheclinictheyreferencedhad
norecordofdiagnosingortreatingVictimA.InresponsetoVictimAsbehavioralchanges,the
JOHNSONSincreasedVictimAsvitaminintake.TheJOHNSONStreatedVictimAswoundswith
Neosporinandmedicalhoney.
2

TheJOHNSONSwereout-of-townforaweddinginthedaysleadinguptoVictimAsdeathonMonday,
March30,2015.TheJOHNSONSleftVictimAinthecareofthe16-year-oldson,WitnessA.WitnessA
calledtheJOHNSONSthemorningofSunday,March29th,2015,andreportedthatVictimAwouldnoteat
orinteract.VictimAhadstoppedtalkingonSaturday,March28th,2015,andWitnessAcouldnotgethim
outofbedonSunday.WitnessAtoldtheJOHNSONSthatVictimAwaslethargicandlimp.The
JOHNSONSacknowledgedthattheydidnotknowwhetherVictimAwasrefusingtogetup,orwhether
VictimAcouldnolongerlifthimself.TheJOHNSONSstartedtoleavetheweddingonSunday,butdecided
toremainout-of-townwhenVictimAatesomeCheerios.
TheJOHNSONSarrivedhometheeveningofSunday,March29th,2015.VictimAwaslayingonthefloor.
VictimAdidnotreactwhentheyarrivedhomeorwhentheyprayedforhishealth.TheJOHNSONSpicked
upVictimAandbroughtVictimAtothetablefordinner.TheyfedVictimAtwobitesofpizzabycuttingthe
pizzaintobite-sizedportionsandputtingitinhismouth.AftergivingVictimAabath,theylaidhimdownto
sleeponamattressintheirroomatabout10:00p.m.BecauseVictimAwasnotsleeping,themattress
wasequippedwithanalarmthatnotifiedtheJOHNSONSifVictimAleftthemattress.VictimAwasina
diaperandalongsleevedshirt.Hedidnothaveablanketorapillow.TheJOHNSONSdiscussedseeking
medicalcareforVictimA,butdecidedtowaituntilthemorningtodeterminewhethermedicalintervention
wasnecessary.
Defendant,TIMOTHYDAVIDJOHNSON,awokethemorningofMonday,March30th,2015toanoiseand
discoveredthatVictimAwasunresponsiveonhismattressandcoveredinvomit.Defendant,TIMOTHY
DAVIDJOHNSON,cleanedoffVictimAandinitiatedCPRwhileSARAHNICOLEJOHNSONcalled911.
Defendant,TIMOTHYDAVIDJOHNSON,isnotincustody.

SIGNATURESANDAPPROVALS
ComplainantrequeststhatDefendant,subjecttobailorconditionsofrelease,be:
(1)arrestedorthatotherlawfulstepsbetakentoobtainDefendant'sappearanceincourtor
(2)detained,ifalreadyincustody,pendingfurtherproceedingsandthatsaidDefendantotherwise
bedealtwithaccordingtolaw.
Complainantdeclaresunderpenaltyofperjurythateverythingstatedinthisdocumentistrueand
correct.Minn.Stat.358.116Minn.R.Crim.P.2.01,subds.1,2.
Complainant

MollyLynch
PoliceOfficer/Detective
3400PlymouthBlvd
Plymouth,MN55447-1482
Badge:51

ElectronicallySigned:
12/28/201607:21AM
HennepinCounty,Minnesota

Beingauthorizedtoprosecutetheoffensescharged,Iapprovethiscomplaint.
ProsecutingAttorney SarahHilleren
300S6thSt
Minneapolis,MN55487
(612)348-5550

ElectronicallySigned:
12/23/201610:49AM

FINDINGOFPROBABLECAUSE
From the above sworn facts, and any supporting affidavits or supplemental sworn testimony, I, the Issuing Officer, have
determined that probable cause exists to support, subject to bail or conditions of release where applicable, Defendants arrest
or other lawful steps be taken to obtain Defendants appearance in court, or Defendants detention, if already in custody,
pendingfurtherproceedings.Defendantisthereforechargedwiththeabove-statedoffense(s).

X SUMMONS
THEREFOREYOU,THEDEFENDANT,ARESUMMONEDtoappearonJanuary31,2017at1:30PMbeforethe
above-namedcourtat300SSixthStreet,Minneapolis,MN55487toanswerthiscomplaint.
IFYOUFAILTOAPPEARinresponsetothisSUMMONS,aWARRANTFORYOURARRESTshallbeissued.

WARRANT
To the Sheriff of the above-named county or other person authorized to execute this warrant: I order, in the name of the State
of Minnesota, that the Defendant be apprehended and arrested without delay and brought promptly before the court (if in
session), and if not, before a Judge or Judicial Officer of such court without unnecessary delay, and in any event not later than
36hoursafterthearrestorassoonassuchJudgeorJudicialOfficerisavailabletobedealtwithaccordingtolaw.
ExecuteinMNOnly

ExecuteNationwide

ExecuteinBorderStates

ORDEROFDETENTION
Since the Defendant is already in custody, I order, subject to bail or conditions of release, that the Defendant continue to be
detainedpendingfurtherproceedings.
Bail:$0.00
ConditionsofRelease:
Thiscomplaint,dulysubscribedandsworntoorsignedunderpenaltyofperjury,isissuedbytheundersignedJudicialOfficer
asofthefollowingdate:December28,2016.
JudicialOfficer

IvyS.Bernhardson
DistrictCourtJudge

ElectronicallySigned:12/28/201611:05AM

SworntestimonyhasbeengivenbeforetheJudicialOfficerbythefollowingwitnesses:

COUNTYOFHENNEPIN
STATEOFMINNESOTA

StateofMinnesota
LAWENFORCEMENTOFFICERRETURNOFSERVICE

Plaintiff

IherebyCertifyandReturnthatIhaveservedacopyofthis
SummonsupontheDefendanthereinnamed.

vs.

SignatureofAuthorizedServiceAgent:

TimothyDavidJohnson
Defendant