April 11, 2016 - What began two weeks ago with the selection of a jury came to an official conclusion Monday, April 11, 2016 in the case of the State of Texas versus Johanna Vickers, a teacher found guilty of an improper relationship with a 16-year-old student, in the 123rd Judicial District Court with Judge Charles "Brick" Dickerson presiding. Judge Dickerson handed down the formal sentencing which was decided by a jury and Vickers was taken into custody of the Shelby County Sheriff's Department.
Concerning causes 15-CR-19554, 15-CR-19555, and 15-CR-19556, Judge Dickerson asked Seth Johnson, Attorney for Vickers, if he had anything to say. Johnson responded with an inquiry as to the Judge's ruling on merger of counts 4, counts 5, and counts 6 on all cases which were improper relationship between educator and student.
Assistant District Attorney Stephen Shires, representing the State of Texas, stated he believed each count presented different elements and therefore shouldn't be merged.
Both attorneys agreed to their knowledge there were no appellant precedents concerning the case and Judge Dickerson ruled on all cases, 15-CR-19554, 15-CR-19555, and 15-CR-19556, that counts 5 and count 6 would be merged with counts 4 with the explanation the counts related to the same incident date although in various ways.
The mergers reduced the number of counts from 17 to 11 in total.
Judge Dickerson then recited each cause and all counts of each reiterating the sentencing given by the jury. The defendant, Johanna Vickers, was found guilty for the offenses set out in cause 15-CR-19554, counts 1 through 6 with counts 5 and 6 being merged into 4 and sentenced for each count 3 years in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice along with a $10,000 fine per count for counts 1, 2, and 3. The defendant, Johanna Vickers, was found guilty for the offenses set out in cause 15-CR-19555, consolidated counts 1 through 6 with counts 5 and 6 being merged into 4 and sentenced for each count 3 years in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice along with a $10,000 fine per count for counts 1, 2, and 3. The defendant, Johanna Vickers, was found guilty for the offenses set out in cause 15-CR-19556, consolidated counts 1, 3, 4 through 6 with counts 5 and 6 being merged into 4 and sentenced for each count 3 years in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice along with a $10,000 fine per count for counts 1 and 3. The sentence is to be served concurrently for a 3 years total and the fines total $80,000.
Vickers was taken into the custody of the Shelby County Sheriff's Department until custody can be remanded to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
