Missed court date leads to arrest
RUSSELLVILLE — A Russellville woman has been arrested more than four months after she failed to show up for her arraignment hearing in Franklin County Circuit Court.
She was charged with three counts of chemical endangerment of a child.
Johnna Leigh Jackson, 31, was arrested July 21 by Franklin County Sheriff’s Office deputies after it was learned she had a warrant for her arrest for failing to show for court.
Jackson, along with her boyfriend, Justin Trae Hutchins, were arrested Oct. 3, 2025, after Russellville Police received a report from the Franklin County Department of Human Resources. DHR received a tip that the two adults were allegedly smoking marijuana in the presence of her children, according to Lt. Michael Miller, who investigated the case.
Miller said police received the report from DHR on Sept. 8, 2025, and went and spoke with Jackson and Hutchins. He said both voluntarily took a drug test, and both tests showed the couple tested positive for marijuana.
Miller said hair samples were taken from the children, who ranged in age from less than 1 year old to 9 years old, on Sept. 16, 2025.
Miller said the tests came back on Oct. 3 showing all three children tested positive for marijuana. Jackson and Hutchins were then arrested.
Jackson was initially booked into the Franklin County Jail on Oct. 3 and released on a $4,000 on Oct. 27, according to court documents.
A Franklin County grand jury returned a four-count indictment in January, charging Jackson with three counts of chemical endangerment of a child, and one count of illegal possession of brass knuckles.
Her arraignment was scheduled for Feb. 26, but she did not show up for the hearing. That led to the arrest warrant, according to court documents.
After Jackson was arrested July 21, her attorney filed a plea of not guilty and waived an arraignment hearing, according to court documents.
She was booked into the Franklin County Jail and released July 21 after her attorney filed her plea.
A Franklin County grand jury also returned a four-count indictment in May charging Hutchins with three counts of chemical endangerment of a child, and one count of illegal possession of brass knuckles.
He was booked into the Franklin County Jail on Oct. 3, 2025, and was released on a $4,000 bond on Oct. 27.
His arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 26, according to court records.
