Abduction, murder plot thwarted by Morris County Sheriff’s office

A plot of abduction and murder was uncovered by the Morris County Sheriff’s office earlier this month.

According to a press release from the County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Macey Stewart was the one responsible for this uncovering. Sheriff’s investigator Kellie Hooper assembled a team, including Texas Rangers to investigate and intercept the suspect before anyone was harmed.

Sergeant Hooper and Texas Ranger David Stewart developed solid probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant and search warrant for the suspect’s property. A precise plan was crafted to take the suspect into custody, and on Monday, August 13th, Sheriff’s Office Corporal Bruce Thompson, Deputy Darrius Everett, and Texas Ranger Joshua Mason took 49-year-old Mark Anthony Johnson of Naples into custody with no injuries to him or the arresting officers. The search warrant for Johnson’s property resulted in the recovery of supplies and materials collected for use in the kidnapping, torture, and murder of the intended victim– including deadly weapons, a large quantity of chemicals and other materials for the destruction of evidence of the crime.

Johnson was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Capital Murder and is being held in the Morris County Jail on a $1,000,000 bond. Sheriff Jack Martin said in the press release, “I deeply appreciate the diligent and efficient work of my team of investigators and the Texas Rangers who worked long hours to get Johnson taken into custody before anyone was harmed, and I’m proud of them for capturing him without anyone being injured.”