The community of Greenfield is grappling with the aftermath of a troubling case involving former childcare employee Jericho Johnson. A recent trial has concluded with Johnson being found guilty on multiple felony charges of child molest and abuse. The verdict was shared in a social media post by Hancock County Prosecutor Brent Eaton, detailing the charges and outcomes of the Superior Court trial.
Johnson, previously employed at Shining Stars Academy and involved with the YMCA after school program, had regularly engaged with children prior to the allegations. Revelations emerged when on February 14, 2024, authorities were alerted by a parent to misconduct at the YMCA. Following this, the investigation quickly expanded to uncover more victims. According to the same post by Prosecutor Brent Eaton, Johnson later admitted to "got carried away" and "wanted to experiment” with the children, a confession that surfaced amidst the mounting allegations. The guilty party is currently in custody awaiting a sentencing date set for July 18.
During the trial, the court heard from multiple young victims, including one who attended Shining Stars Academy. The child reported an incident to the institution's Owner/Operator Kelly Basey, who failed to escalate the matter to the Department of Child Services or law enforcement. Although Basey faced charges for Failure to Report, she was acquitted following a trial. The lack of immediate action following the initial report notably allowed Johnson to continue his contact with children until the subsequent YMCA incident led to an official investigation.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor Aimee Herring, who handled the state's case, recognized the collective efforts in pursuing justice. She conveyed a strong appreciation for the team dynamic, stating, "This case is an excellent example of how our multi-disciplinary team works together collaboratively to serve victims and families in times of crisis." Herring also highlighted the courage shown by the children testifying, emphasizing how they "showed the Court and the Defendant just how strong they are and that no matter what the Defendant did to them, the kids would not be silenced." As reported by the prosecutor's office, the investigative and prosecutorial team are awaiting to see if the court's sentence will reflect the severity of the crimes committed.
