SPOKANE, Wash. — Chesed Johnson made another first appearance in court Tuesday afternoon, on a new accusation of threatening Spokane County Jail Chief Don Hooper.
Johnson has been arrested for making threats and/or stalking against other powerful figures in Spokane County in the past, including former Mayor Nadine Woodward and current Mayor Lisa Brown.
A deputy sheriff was called to the jail for a threat on January 18, 2025, according to an affidavit of facts filed with Spokane County Superior Court. In speaking with a jail sergeant, the deputy learned Johnson pushed three sheets of paper outside of his cell door.
On one sheet of paper, it was written,
“Don Hooper is dead, if you do not take this paper.”
Other statements on other sheets of paper appeared to read,
“I will spend the rest of my life in prison putting hits on Don Hooper his family and is [sic] street and neighbors until they are all dead for the years of abuse and corruption in the jail,””Every commissioner is dead for refusing to investigate jail,”
and,
“Shut the city down.”
The jail chief told the deputy that the threats from Johnson against him and his family, specifically, are the most direct threats he has had in his career.
According to the affidavit, the deputy tried to speak with Johnson about the threats; Johnson refused to talk.
The court document indicated that Johnson was upset over not receiving medication while in jail.
Johnson has a history of mental illness challenges related to past threats against city and county officials. Based upon previous mental health-related incidents, jail staff felt Johnson could potentially follow through on such threats.
According to the Washington Department of Social and Health Services, a civil commitment is the second of two routes for admission to a state psychiatric hospital in Washington. It starts with an evaluation by a county-designated mental health professional. It’s not clear if, or when such an evaluation has taken place for Johnson in recent years or months.
On Tuesday, Johnson appeared in court with his hands and feet shackled at the request of the prosecutor’s office. Johnson’s attorney argued that Johnson had been restrained for an earlier mental health docket hearing and exhibited no violent behavior. Commissioner Eugene Cruz, at the request of Johnson’s attorney, had a jail sergeant remove the shackles for the afternoon hearing on threats.
The prosecutor said Johnson had 13 previous convictions related to stalking and threats between 2020 and 2024. It was requested that a previously-set bond amount of $75,000 be maintained. Johnson’s attorney argued that he is was indigent and cannot pay his previous bond, let alone the newest one. Johnson’s lawyer said Johnson is retired military and suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Commissioner Cruz increased a bond for a previous escape charge from $5,000 to $50,000. He set the latest jail threats charge bond for $20,000.
More on the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA), from the Washington Health Care Authority
More on Ricky’s Law, from the Washington Health Care Authority
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