Arizona FilAm charged with poisoning husband avoids jail | TFC News Arizona, USA
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00:00.8
A Filipina mother of two in Tucson, Arizona, who was charged with poisoning her husband's coffee, is getting out of jail.
00:09.9
40-year-old Melody Johnson, who agreed to a plea deal on April 8 to two counts of adding a harmful substance to food and drink,
00:18.4
which were captured on home surveillance video, has been sentenced to three years probation.
00:24.5
Her husband, Robbie Johnson, spoke to the judge before the sentencing.
00:28.5
The case of incarceration may have imparted valuable lessons. I harbor doubts that it alone will address the underlying issues.
00:35.7
Hence, I respectfully petition that Melody be mandated to undergo mental health treatment and educational programs in concert with probation.
00:44.0
Melody's attorney, Anteya Gatalica, told the court that the Filipina has taken responsibility for her actions.
00:51.2
She has, as indicated by the pre-sentence report, apologized to the victim, Robbie Johnson.
00:56.0
She makes no excuse for her conduct.
00:58.6
And that was in her letter to the court.
01:01.1
She has also apologized to her friends and her family because they have also been greatly affected by this, given the nature of the attention around this case.
01:13.3
Mrs. Johnson has received formal diagnoses for anxiety and depression, and it is true what Mrs. Otto has said.
01:20.4
She has long struggled with her mental health.
01:22.9
Gatalica also spoke about Melody's upbringing and family.
01:28.5
She was born and raised in the Philippines.
01:31.1
She is the eldest of eight children.
01:33.8
As I mentioned in my memorandum, her father worked in law enforcement and was a disciplinarian.
01:39.4
Mrs. Johnson will later come to learn that appropriate disciplinary actions varied culturally.
01:45.3
Throughout her interview with probation, she remarked that harsh punishments were normal when she was growing up,
01:52.1
and that much of what she experienced likely would have crossed the line here in the United States.
01:57.4
Still, Mrs. Johnson has been a member of the Philippine Police Department for over a decade.
01:58.5
Mrs. Johnson maintains that she suffered no abuse at the hands of her family growing up.
02:03.9
She actually remains close with her family and is close with several family members.
02:08.2
She speaks with her mother and sister daily.
02:11.5
The two support her both emotionally and financially.
02:15.4
Melody was facing two years of prison time for each count,
02:19.5
but Judge Javier Chon Lopez considered the fact that it was her first offense and that she has taken responsibility.
02:26.6
The judge also cited,
02:28.5
Mrs. Johnson, anything you want to say before sentence is pronounced?
02:36.7
Besides the three-year probation, Melody was ordered to undergo mental health treatment.
02:42.1
Melody, who is in the process of divorcing her husband,
02:45.2
already spent nearly a year in jail while waiting for a conclusion to her case.
02:50.3
Len Almadin-Thornhill, ABS-CBN News.
02:58.5
Thank you for watching!
