United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

INMATE WHO ESCAPED FROM HOOD COUNTY JAIL ON
ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A FEDERAL OFFICER
HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

FORT WORTH, Texas — Jason Lee Johnston, 24, who escaped from the Hood County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center in late July, was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge John McBryde to LIFE in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper. Johnston was convicted in October of attempted murder of a federal officer, assault of a federal officer using a deadly weapon, use of a firearm to commit a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His wife, Tiffany Michelle Johnston was sentenced earlier this month to 96 months (eight years) in prison.

Jason Lee Johnston and Cleties Matthew Conley, escaped from the Hood County Jail on July 28, 2007. At the time, Mr. Johnston was waiting to be transferred to the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice where he was to begin serving a 30-year sentence for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. After escaping, Mr. Johnston contacted his wife, Tiffany and told her to pick him up. He also instructed her to bring him his handgun.

Later that same day, Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) officers saw Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, their 18-month-old child, and Conley in a blue 4-door vehicle. Law enforcement officers from the FWPD and the U.S. Marshals stopped the vehicle on Las Vegas Trail in Fort Worth. During the stop, Mr. Johnston, who was seated in the front passenger seat, refused to exit the vehicle, fired his handgun at an FWPD officer, and ordered Tiffany to drive away. The suspects drove away, but stopped shortly and Tiffany, the child, and Conley exited the vehicle and surrendered to law enforcement.

Mr. Johnston then drove away and led law enforcement on a dangerous, high speed chase. During the course of this pursuit, Mr. Johnston stopped his vehicle, aimed his handgun at a pursuing Special Agent of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and fired, striking the agent’s vehicle. The ATF agent fired back, but did not strike Mr. Johnston before he sped away and eluded officers.

After she was arrested, Tiffany Michelle Johnston told officers that she had provided the handgun to Mr. Johnston and that he told her that he needed the firearm “for protection.” He also repeatedly told her that he was not going back to jail and would not be taken alive.

Three days later, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (USMS FAST) and deputies with the Hood County Sheriff’s Office found and arrested Mr. Johnston at a residence in Granbury, Texas. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of the same handgun he used to fire at law enforcement officers days earlier. The handgun was loaded.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Fort Worth Police Department, ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Hood County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jay DeWald and Fred Schattman.

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