According to court records, Johnson will plead guilty before U.S. district Judge Tom S. Lee on Thursday. Wednesday’s preliminary hearing was presided over by Magistrate Linda Anderson. Johnson, who is an attorney, said he would represent himself throughout the proceedings. Johnson, 33, has a law degree as well as a master’s degree in law. He said that he was with the district attorney’s office for approximately three years. Wednesday’s hearing was his first appearance. This is when the court collects information about a defendant and sets bond. It also asks questions about legal representation. Thursday’s hearing will be focused on Johnson’s guilty plea and conditions of him awaiting a report. This could take several months. Johnson is charged with participating in a scheme to receive money from “others” for “a transaction” or “a series of transactions” that involved $5,000 or more. The government charges him with accepting $500 to reduce the bond of the defendant “S.B.” from $15,000 down to around $3,500. Johnson could face up to five years imprisonment and a $250,000 penalty. He will also lose his law license. Johnson has not been employed in the office of the district attorney since July 18. Johnson was arrested less than one month after his former boss, District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith was charged with six misdemeanor charges of illegally aiding criminal defendants. Smith has not made any public statements regarding his situation. The government was represented by Allison Bushnell, an assistant U.S. Attorney from Shreveport (La.). The Jackson-based U.S. Attorney’s Office raised potential conflicts in the case and was elected as prosecutors. Johnson was charged July 15 with a one-count Bill of Information, which is a legal accusation brought by the government without a grand jury.