Escapee George Indicted on 2nd Firearms Count

Johnaton Sampson George, an escapee already charged with killing a motorist in the Gaslamp Quarter, was indicted Thursday on a federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The new indictment handed down by a federal grand jury charges George, 34, with possessing a .357-caliber gun that he allegedly stole from Sheriff’s Deputy Lydia Werner on Oct. 5. George faces a possible penalty of life in prison without parole if convicted.

Werner, 59, was transporting George to the downtown Metropolitan Correctional Center when George allegedly removed his handcuffs and kicked open a door of the Sheriff’s Department van she was driving.

When George allegedly took off running down a street in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, Werner gave chase, eventually catching up with the 6-foot, 240-pound prisoner. George then beat the officer and stole her gun, investigators said.

George allegedly used the weapon to fatally shoot Michael (Mick) Champion during a carjacking in front of startled pedestrians and restaurant-goers.

Authorities arrested George without incident Tuesday at a Compton house where he was hiding out.

Werner’s gun has not been recovered, authorities said, but another weapon was recovered from George’s jacket when he was taken into custody.

In addition to the new charge, George has already been indicted in federal court on a second charge of being a felon in possession of a gun and on charges of escaping from the South Bay Municipal Court on June 1.

“Under this indictment, he faces a maximum penalty under federal law of life in prison,” U.S. Atty. William Braniff said.

George is scheduled to be arraigned on the new indictment Tuesday morning in federal court.

The new charge was announced Thursday at a press conference where Braniff refused to answer questions concerning reports that George may have been aided in his escape by someone at the downtown Metropolitan Correctional Center who provided him with a handcuff key.

However, Braniff and the prosecutor in George’s case, Assistant U.S. Atty. Sherri L. Walker, said the investigation is continuing.

Braniff said that his office wishes to cooperate with state prosecutors, who have charged George with murder and six other felonies.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Phillips also has charged George with the special-circumstance allegation of committing murder during the course of a robbery. George could be sentenced to die in the gas chamber at San Quentin if he is convicted of all charges.

Asked at his press conference about the possibility of the death penalty, Braniff said: “I think that would be a more important course to take.”

George is scheduled to be arraigned today on the state murder charges in the downtown County Courthouse.

County marshals began preparations for the extra-heavy security measures Thursday afternoon.

One unnamed bailiff said there will be at least eight deputy marshals on hand in the felony arraignment courtroom, which will be cleared of all other defendants. This force will be augmented by federal marshals who are guarding George at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.