Nico Johnson enters not guilty plea to harassment charge

Andalusia two-sport standout and University of Alabama football signee Nico Johnson faces “a verbal, non-physical” misdemeanor harassment charge in Andalusia following an alleged exchange this week with another male.

Johnson, who is scheduled to report to Alabama later this month, turned himself in to police Tuesday after a warrant was issued by the local court magistrate following a complaint.

He posted a $500 bond, according to a published report on al.com. A preliminary court date of May 18 has been set at Andalusia Municipal Court, said Johnson’s attorney, John Jones, of Jones & Jones in Andalusia.

“He has entered a not guilty plea,” said Jones. “He has waived his arraignment, so we can try to speed up the process.”

The charge is a Class C misdemeanor offense, which by state law is punishable by “no more than three months in jail and no more than a $500 fine.”

Johnson has been a four-year standout in football and basketball at Andalusia. A 6-foot-3, 235-pounder, he starred at linebacker in football and as a forward-center in basketball. He signed to play football at Alabama this past winter.

Michael Johnson, Johnson’s older brother, said he believes the issue is “blown out of proportion.”

“It is all false accusations and I feel all the problems will be worked out in the next day or two,” Johnson said Friday.
Jones also felt Johnson would be cleared.

“From what I understand, it seems to be a misunderstanding that has been blown out of proportion,” Jones said. “I am confident Nico will be exonerated.”

Johnson’s brother said he could not go into details of the incident other than to verify that it happened Sunday in Andalusia with another Andalusia High student. He added Nico Johnson has been advised not to talk about the incident.

Andalusia head basketball coach Richard Robertson also declined to talk about the issue, citing it was a non-school issue since it happened away from the campus and on non-school time.

Jones, Johnson’s lawyer, also did not go into details of the incident.

“I have not looked at the complaint, but I have talked to Nico and he denies the charge,” Jones said.

Michael Johnson said Alabama head football Nick Saban has been made aware of the situation.

Jones said he has known Nico Johnson all of Johnson’s life and expressed “shock” at the allegation.

“He is a very fine young man,” Jones said. “He is a polite, gentle person, almost too passive. This is out of (Johnson’s) character for someone to allege this.

“When someone first told me, I was like, ‘Are you talking about Nico Johnson? Are you kidding?’”

Johnson was a three-time all-state selection in both football and basketball and was honorable mention all-state football as a freshman.
This past year, he earned first-team all-state in both sports from the Alabama Sports Writers Association and was one of three finalists for Class 4A state player of the year honors in basketball.

In football, he finished with 110 tackles — 11.0 a game — with two sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt. In basketball, he averaged 20.1 points, 16.3 rebounds and 4.1 blocks a game this past season, helping the Bulldogs finish 26-3 and reach the Class 4A state Final Four in Birmingham.

For his career, Johnson made 425 tackles in football from his freshman to senior seasons, including 12 quarterback sacks, while causing 10 fumbles and recovering eight fumbles. He also blocked four punts and a PAT attempt.

In basketball, Johnson finished his Andalusia career with 18.7 points, 15.4 rebounds and 4.0 blocks a game. He was a four-year captain, the first ever in Robertson’s 34-year coaching career at AHS.