Dr. Candice Matthews Demands Accountability in Kayden Johnson Juvenile Court Case (DALLAS)
Activist, Dr. Candice Matthews traveled to Dallas County today to raise awareness about the juvenile court case involving 13-year-old Kayden Johnson, who has been arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a 4-year-old child.
The trial ended in a mistrial on October 8. As of October 14, the district attorney’s office has offered no reduction in the charge as part of a plea agreement.
Matthews has raised several concerns about the prosecution, alleging that the alleged victim’s mother identified Kayden’s father in court as the perpetrator. She also alleges that Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon failed to conduct the proceedings ethically and that the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office committed a Brady violation by failing to disclose video evidence that could have exonerated Kayden.
Matthews is calling on the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) to formally investigate Judge Shannon. She is also demanding that the court reporter be removed from her position and that the detective assigned to the case be fired.
Matthews, Kayden’s family, the NAACP and other community members are calling for the case to be dismissed immediately.
As the case moves forward, advocates are urging officials to address these allegations, review all available evidence and ensure that Kayden receives a fair legal process.
UPDATE: Following the press conference, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office contacted the family’s attorney and reiterated its existing plea offer.
In the email, Assistant District Attorney Shannon Barber Green said the offer remains a reduction to misdemeanor indecent assault, with two years of probation and outpatient sex offender treatment through STARS. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for October 22 at 9:30 a.m.
The email contradicts the earlier statement that prosecutors had offered no reduction in charges. The offer includes a reduction, but its terms remain unchanged.
Kayden’s family rejected the offer, saying, “Not accepting anything but dismissal!” The family also characterized the outreach as intimidation, stating, “I just can’t believe how fast they tried to intimidate us.”