Johnson sentenced to 30 years in Plummer murder

PALMER — A man who stabbed a man to death near the threshold of the home, faces 21 years behind bars.

Superior Court Judge Kari Kristiansen sentenced Spencer Johnson, 21, to 30 years, with 10 suspended, and 10 years probation — during which he can have no contact with his father — on consolidated counts of second-degree murder for various causes, according to a summary of the July 1 proceedings in the case.

Kristiansen also sentenced Johnson to serve one-year for an associated burglary count, according to the sentencing summary.

A jury convicted Johnson in February of using a knife to cause the death of Michael Plummer on March 7, 2012.

The prosecution argued that Johnson killed Plummer in an amped-up state induced by his father Andrew Johnson, 41, and another man not charged in the incident during the search for Holly Johnson, Spencer’s stepmother and Andrew’s wife.

The defense argued that Spencer reached to push Plummer away from his father with knife in hand and accidentally stabbed Plummer as a result.

Andrew and attorneys representing Spencer have said concerns about a potential relapse for Holly, and their belief that Plummer would supply drugs to Holly, led them to the front door of a Knik-Goose Bay house that evening.

Jessica Smith, Plummer’s fiancé and a former prison acquaintance of Holly’s, said drugs were not present in the house where she and Plummer lived with her parents. She was arrested and compelled to testify in the case.

Spencer has remained in jail on $100,000 bond since his arrest in connection with the incident in 2012.

Andrew pleaded guilty to manslaughter in December 2014. As a result, counts of second-degree murder, criminally negligent homicide, and burglary against him were dismissed. Andrew has maintained his innocence in the months since, and has sought post-conviction relief, saying his defense attorney coerced the plea.

He first filed for post-conviction relief in Palmer Superior Court, but a judge dismissed that case June 16. He has also sought post-conviction relief in a 2003 case in an Anchorage court, during which he pleaded no contest to second-degree assault, second-degree robbery, vehicle theft, and fourth-degree assault. Prosecutors dismissed additional counts of fourth-degree assault and driving under the influence in the 2003 case. Johnson owes about $9,000 restitution in that case.

Spencer’s sentencing is the last outstanding legal incident arising from Plummer’s death. However, Spencer still faces charges in connection with an alleged jailhouse second-degree robbery, fourth-degree assault, and fourth-degree theft, according to court documents.

A trial call — essentially a check-in with prosecution and defense attorneys to examine the status of the case, often conducted via phone — is set for July 7, court documents show.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.