MAYS LANDING, NJ – Atlantic County Prosecutor William E. Reynolds publicly voiced concern Sunday over the recent clemency granted to Derrick Johnson, a convicted armed robber who was released earlier this month after serving part of a 70-year sentence.
Johnson’s sentence, imposed in 2008 for a string of violent offenses including multiple armed robberies and aggravated assault, was commuted on November 25, leading to his release December 4.
Reynolds said the decision raises serious questions about transparency, consistency, and the reliability of outcomes in the criminal justice system’s most serious cases.
He emphasized that Johnson’s conviction had been affirmed repeatedly through appeals and post-conviction reviews, and that the underlying crimes involved extreme violence and significant victim trauma.
Prosecutor details violent 2006 Somers Point robbery
According to Reynolds, Johnson and two armed accomplices carried out a takeover-style robbery on June 22, 2006, at a T.G.I. Fridays in Somers Point just after closing. Employees were threatened at gunpoint, restrained with duct tape, and robbed of their belongings and store funds. One employee was struck in the head with a firearm, and the group attempted to lock the victims in a cooler before fleeing.
A jury convicted Johnson on all major charges, and a judge imposed a 70-year sentence under the No Early Release Act, citing his extensive criminal history. Court records showed Johnson had 27 adult arrests, eight indictable convictions, and multiple probation and parole violations.
Clemency decision draws scrutiny
Reynolds noted that the commutation was not linked to any claim of wrongful conviction, procedural error, or disproportionate sentencing. He said the case underscores the tension between executive clemency powers and the judiciary’s role in preserving finality.
“When executive action sets aside a sentence of this magnitude after a violent, armed offense with multiple victims and after every level of judicial review has affirmed the outcome, it places strain on the balance between clemency and judicial finality,” Reynolds said.
Call for greater transparency in executive decisions
Reynolds concluded that clemency decisions in violent cases should be supported by clear and public explanations to preserve confidence in the justice system. He warned that decisions made without transparency risk undermining public trust and the stability of court rulings.
“The public deserves confidence that the rule of law, not uncertainty, governs decisions of this magnitude,” Reynolds said.