Shooting death suspect released on bond

By Archive

Published: May 14, 2008

The Enterprise man charged with murder in the weekend shooting death of his wife has been released from the Coffee County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

Jail officials confirmed Wednesday that Gene Johnson was released on bond Tuesday after 6 p.m.

Johnson is charged with murder in the Saturday night shooting death of his wife Linda Johnson at their home on North Rawls Street in Enterprise.

According to witnesses, the Johnsons appeared to be having an argument before the shooting.

Enterprise Police Captain Mike Lolley said Linda Johnson’s car was packed with what seemed to be all of her clothes as if she was leaving.

District Judge Paul Sherling set the bond at $100,000 Monday afternoon at the request of Assistant District Attorney Tom Anderson. Sherling explained the bond was the highest amount recommended by the state for the charge.

Jail officials said a local bonding company posted a cash bond for Johnson’s release.

Anderson said he did not believe Johnson was a flight risk.

He did say he believes Johnson is potentially dangerous to the public based on the fact he is charged with murdering his wife.

Attorney Warren Rowe argued his client is not dangerous. “An unfortunate set of circumstances resulted in a death,” Rowe told the judge. “He’s got a good reputation in the community.”

Sherling said one condition of Johnson’s bond would be that he maintain full-time employment. Johnson said he has been employed by Army Fleet Support at Fort Rucker for 43 years and is currently a production control supervisor.

Sherling also stipulated that Johnson have an 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. curfew unless scheduled to work past those hours, and he is to have no contact with his late wife’s family.

A preliminary hearing in the case has been set for June 16 at 10 a.m.