Mom of Dearborn Toddler Who Drowned Faces New Charges

DEARBORN, MI — The mother of a Dearborn 2-year-old who drowned in her neighbor’s swimming pool last summer failed to show up at her sentencing on a second-degree child abuse was charged Friday with new charges of violating her probation and failing to appear, WDIV-TV reported.

Police said Amber Johnson and her husband, James Johnson III, were sleeping when their two children, 2-year-old Monica and her 3-year-old brother, wandered away from their home on Boldt Street while their parents slept on June 3, 2016.

Monica was found unresponsive at the bottom of her neighbor’s pool. The neighbor tried to resuscitate the toddler, but was unsuccessful. She died a day later. The Johnsons originally were charged with second-degree murder, homicide-inventory manslaughter and second-degree child abuse.

The boy was not injured.

The judge accepted James Johnson’s plea on Jan.24, and was prepared to sentence Amber Johnson, who previously had pleaded guilty to second-degree child abuse, but she wasn’t in the courtroom. According to WDIV, Amber Johnson’s stepfather was in the courtroom, and she was texting him, reportedly writing that she didn’t want to go to jail, so she left.

See Also

• Dearborn Toddler Wanders Away, Nearly Drowns: Police
• Toddler Dies After Falling In Pool While Parents Slept
• Parents Charged in ‘Completely Preventable Death’ of Toddler

When she finally did show up in court, she was sentenced to 11 months in jail and three years’ probation without the possibility of parole.

When she finally made a court appearance, she faced not only new charges, but was sentenced to 11 months in jail and three years’ probation without the possibility of parole on the second-degree child abuse charge. She was also ordered to take parenting classes and follow the recommendations of Child Protective Services.

James Johnson’s sentencing is set for Feb. 24.

Photos via Dearborn Police Department