A former Indianapolis Public Schools teacher accused of allowing students to hurt one another in his classroom is expected to plead guilty to felony neglect Tuesday. The case centers on allegations that children were left in danger while the adult responsible for supervising them allegedly recorded and encouraged the violence.
Julious Johnican is scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in Marion Superior Court 25, according to WIBC 93.1 FM. He faces a Level 6 felony charge of neglect of a dependent, and the former teacher resigned after the allegations became public while IPS recommended him for termination.
Video Allegedly Captured Classroom Attack
The criminal case grew out of allegations at George Washington Carver Montessori School 87 during the fall of 2023. WFYI reported that a cellphone video recorded by Johnican allegedly showed one student attacking a student with disabilities while a voice encouraged the assault.
According to the same reporting, a Department of Child Services investigation completed in February 2024 found that Johnican had neglected students, but police were not initially informed by DCS or IPS. The case moved forward after a civil lawsuit brought broader attention to the allegations, prompting an Indianapolis police investigation and the later felony charge.
A federal court order described the overlapping civil case as involving multiple alleged incidents affecting a 7-year-old student with disabilities while he was in the care of school employees, including Johnican. The court allowed a limited pause in discovery involving Johnican while the state criminal case proceeded, according to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
School Fallout Continued After Johnican Left
In April 2025, the family’s federal lawsuit against IPS and school officials was dismissed after the parties agreed to end it, though WFYI reported that it was unclear whether the dismissal reflected an out-of-court settlement. The district also created a task force focused on mental health and school culture after parents raised concerns about safety and communication.
The controversy later appeared in a separate civil lawsuit involving another young student and former IPS administrators. Hoodline previously reported that the case alleged months of abuse and bullying at the same school, claims IPS disputed.
Possible Prison Time If Plea Deal Is Accepted
If the court accepts the proposed plea agreement, Johnican could face between six months and two and a half years in prison, WIBC 93.1 FM reports. The outlet also reported that IPS agreed in April to pay $1,208,500 to resolve related civil litigation, adding a substantial financial consequence to a case that has already rattled families at the school.
