Tomiekia Johnson, California Highway Patrol Officer, Pleads Not Guilty to Husband's Murder

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) Tomiekia Johnson, the California Highway Patrol officer who admitted she shot and killed her husband two years ago, pleaded not guilty to his murder Thursday.

Prosecutors say the 31-year-old Johnson, of Compton, shot her husband Marcus Lemons in February 2009 near a freeway off-ramp, then drove to her parents' home with her husband's body in the passenger seat.

She was arrested Tuesday after police found her story of the incident to be inconsistent with their findings.

Johnson reported the shooting and originally told investigators that she shot her husband in self-defense after the couple argued and he became abusive.

However, sheriff's homicide detectives were skeptical of Johnson's story, especially after family members and friends of Lemons, a 31-year-old barber, described him as a peaceful man, while Johnson had a history of drinking heavily, reports The Los Angeles Times.

She was arrested after investigators concluded self-defense was not involved. She is being held on $2 million bail, and is due to return to court for a bail review January 31.

Johnson has been placed on administrative leave with out pay.

MORE ON CRIMESIDER
January 12, 2011 - California Highway Patrol Officer Tomiekia Johnson Charged with Husband's Murder