Florida lady laughs in courtroom over deadly hit-and-run prices

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A Florida lady accused of fleeing a crash that killed an 8-year-old boy was seen shaking her head and laughing throughout her first court appearance Friday as a choose learn the fees towards her by way of video convention.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Workplace stated 30-year-old Victoria Johnson of Winter Haven was arrested Thursday and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving loss of life, leaving the scene of a crash with critical bodily harm, tampering with proof, driving with out a license inflicting loss of life and giving false info to regulation enforcement officers.

Johnson appeared earlier than a choose Friday throughout a primary look listening to held by video convention, the place the fees had been formally learn.

In the course of the listening to, Johnson shook her head and was seen laughing on video because the choose learn the fees towards her.

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A Florida lady accused of fleeing a crash that killed an 8-year-old boy was seen laughing in courtroom as a choose learn the fees in a Polk County listening to Friday. (WTVT)

After showing to snicker in disbelief, Johnson was heard saying, "I wasn’t even within the automobile."

She was then advised not to discuss the info of her case earlier than the choose requested whether or not she needed to return Saturday for a continuance after securing an legal professional.

"I don’t know which one is best," Johnson stated.

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"I can’t provide you with any recommendation, ma’am," the choose responded. "I’ll appoint the general public defender at the moment if you need me to."

A Florida lady accused of fleeing a crash that killed an 8-year-old boy was seen laughing in courtroom as a choose learn the fees in a Polk County listening to Friday. (WTVT)

"Sure, please," Johnson replied.

Simply earlier than 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, deputies obtained 911 calls from Religion Baptist Church in Winter Haven reporting two boys had been run over by a automobile earlier than the motive force fled the scene.

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The boys had been at a church occasion and trying to cross Crystal Seashore Street after they had been struck by a northbound automobile, investigators stated. An 8-year-old boy died from his accidents, whereas a 10-year-old boy suffered a damaged arm, damaged femur and compound cranium fracture and stays hospitalized in crucial however steady situation.

Witnesses described the automobile as a dark-colored mid-sized SUV, and components discovered on the crash scene had been in keeping with the decrease portion of the automobile.

Surveillance video from the realm confirmed a truck touring southbound and one other automobile heading north. Audio from the footage instructed one thing was struck by the second automobile earlier than it was seen turning east, authorities stated.

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A Florida lady accused of fleeing a crash that killed an 8-year-old boy was seen laughing in courtroom as a choose learn the fees in a Polk County listening to Friday. (Polk County Sheriff's Workplace)

Investigators later discovered Johnson had known as authorities Thursday to report her darkish blue 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe stolen. When deputies positioned her, she initially claimed the automobile had been stolen the night time earlier than.

She later advised deputies she had loaned the SUV to somebody who didn't return it earlier than admitting she had been driving Wednesday night time and that she "thought she might need hit somebody."

As deputies transported Johnson to a substation for questioning, they noticed the SUV being driven by Corey Stewart – the person she advised investigators she had given the automobile to "to eliminate."

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Deputies adopted the SUV to a close-by residence the place Stewart and a passenger initially refused to return outdoors. A search of the automobile revealed injury, lacking components and attainable organic materials in keeping with a pedestrian strike.

Johnson allegedly advised investigators she had been driving round close to her residence for about 20 minutes however couldn't recall the precise roads she traveled. The realm she described was in keeping with the crash location, about 2.8 miles from her residence.

She additionally advised deputies she had been listening to music and driving to calm down and acknowledged her license had been suspended following a DUI arrest . Johnson stated she knew she was not alleged to be driving and believed she would seemingly face felony prices.

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Authorities stated Johnson admitted utilizing methamphetamine earlier than driving that night time and later met Stewart at a Circle Ok in Winter Haven, the place he drove her SUV to a home the place they used meth earlier than going fishing at a close-by pond. Johnson later allowed him to maintain the automobile.

FOX 13 in Tampa reported that Johnson’s public defender had been appointed.

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"This was, in reality, a tragic, horrible accident, however upon my studying of the affidavit, it would not actually appear that something she did to trigger the accident," her public defender stated.

The choose in the end set Johnson’s bond at $100,000. Nevertheless, in a separate case she was held with out bond for violating probation tied to a earlier DUI case in January.