Sherry Johnston, Facing Felony Drug Charges, Shouldn't Have Left Alaska To Do Tyra, Prosecutor Says

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The Palmer District Attorney said if he had known just why Sherry Johnston needed to travel outside Alaska he would not have signed off on the trip.

Johnston, who is facing felony drug charges, left Alaska to appear on "The Tyra Banks Show" and "Larry King Live."

Prosecutor Roman Kalytiak said he thought Johnston, who is the mother of Levi Johnson who fathered a child with Bristol Palin, Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter, had something important to do that justified traveling.

Kalytiak said the way the legal motion was worded, it appeared that Johnston needed to travel for important family business. He said he now knows that was not the case.

They "didn't say she was going out of state to appear on various TV shows," he said.

Johnston, 42, appeared on the programs alongside her daughter, Mercede, 17, and 18-year-old son, Levi.

Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston's out-of-wedlock pregnancy was announced while Palin was running for vice president. The two broke up shortly after the December birth of their son, Tripp.

The Johnstons talked on the shows about the rift between their family and the Palins.

Story continues below

Kalytiak said that people accused of serious crimes who are not in jail awaiting trial are sometimes allowed to travel for unusual circumstances like funerals, medical treatment or other family emergencies.

But of Johnston's trips, he said, "It appears like these appearances are something she's doing as a choice and they certainly aren't necessary to her family or her case."

In December, Johnston was charged with dealing the prescription painkiller OxyContin, a popular but highly addictive recreational drug. Her trial is scheduled to begin May 18.

Kalytiak said Johnston should be thinking about the trial and working on her defense instead of traveling.

Become a fan of HuffPost Politics on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Comments

[larry278]

Since Gov Palin isn't under indictment--yet--she is free to go to Indiana to speak tor right to lifers. Being Gov of Alaska is only a part-time job.

[bygollymissmolly]

Actually it is a full-time job. At least she is being paid for it being a full-time job. She just makes it a part time job. She is a disgrace and making Alaskans look like a bunch of fools. When are they going to get it?

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

You are joking aren't you? Cause every state I have lived in (and thats alot) the governor was there full time and lived in the government housing that was provided. But am sure you are joking.

[nowarpleez]

And after all of this Levi said he would still vote for Palin if she ran for President in 2012. Amazing.

[soupson52]

Publicity, maybe? (For him?)

[Rene Thompson]

She has control over whether or not he gets to see his own child. I don't think it has anything to do with whether he believes in her political stands.

[mollymac]

He's a kid! And very intimidated by her. Good grief - she's the governor (whatever that means....) she's 45, the mother of 5 kids and she used him lock, stock and barrel. Now, he's expendable. Maybe he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he isn't even grown up yet. You are all so judgmental. I have heard that she throws massive tantrums and intimidates everyone that gets in her way. This is from people I know in Alaska who know her well. Consider how this wasilla kid is in over his head.

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

Well ignorance is bliss. Besides who knows how he really will vote in the next election am sure he won't be on good relations with that bunch. If he is lucky he'll get a job mind his own business and than share custody with Bristol, not her parents. I feel the parents ruined any chance they had to make it. Momma Palin should never have put Bristol in the lime light. Its so sad to see her mother running her life and telling her what to say.

[Rain-man]

Levi has to vote for Sarah if he ever wants to see his son again!

[OB-GYN]

Since when is a mother publicly defending a son not important? Seeing the Johnston family quietly relate their views shed a new light on their being called "white trash"; they came across believable which is "important family business" when dealing with one's reputation before a felony trial.

"Kalytiak said the way the legal motion was worded, it appeared that Johnston needed to travel for important family business."

LOL prosecutor. You're a dollar short and a day late. Did your phone ring at 3 a.m. after these interviews, with a Governor or someone on the end of the line?

[AnnfromCA]

The day judges think going on Tyra Banks is a family emergency is the day we've truly all lost our wits.

[aloha43]

No one said there was an emergency. Just family business, and THAT was allowed. That can mean anything.....so maybe it is just you that has lost your wits......

[lynettema]

"Kalytiak said the way the legal motion was worded, it appeared that Johnston needed to travel for important family business."

Doesn't seem she called it an emergency. She thought it was important family business.
Hey, she went back to Alaska to face her accusers. What's the problem? If she saw this as important family business who is really to argue that point. Eye of the beholder. I am sure it was not important to Palin or her supporters.

[2008CaliforniaFan]

WoW... Ann..? You changed ONE word from the press statement above to change the whole story spin. Why...I ask? There is no statement about a 'family emergency' for the Johnston family.
Why did you change those two words. You should read it A G A I N.

The Prosecutor said
" Kalytiak said the way the legal motion was worded, it appeared that Johnston needed to travel for important family business."

'Family BUSINESS'... not emergency.

The emergency quote....does not refer to THIS case... it was an example.
"Kalytiak said that people accused of serious crimes who are not in jail awaiting trial are sometimes allowed to travel for unusual circumstances like funerals, medical treatment or other family emergencies."

Opps... you can appoligize for your error now.

[jackson678]

OB-GYN, You think a mother must defend her son on the Tyra Banks Show? You are a hoot.

[mollymac]

exactly!

[measie]

This is wrong. You can't have an attorney for the state, who if you think about it, works for Palin and gets his salary from Palin, telling Ms. Johnson that she can't do talk shows that put his boss in a bad light, especially "after the fact". That is abuse of power. This will come back on him. He authorized out-of-state travel without restrictions. Then after they heard what she had to say, didn't like where she went and what she said. Palin is trying to stop Levy from talking. This State attorney is doing just what Palin does: try to intimidate people with her position. Now she is using the law to do it. Let's see how politcially charged this mess gets for the Governor. Opps. She did it again. (Just like Britney.)

[Rain-man]

You hit the Moose on the head...

[brt929]

In my opinion, this Prosecutor is being rather cowardly. I believe she is a first time Defendant, she came right back, and maybe to her it was important. He seems to me, he is embarrassed that he signed the stipulation to let her go- that he is just cowering to the Palin machine. (I'm sure the Palin supporters let him know their dismay.)

[2008CaliforniaFan]

Some posters don't want to get the facts before they make their statements..a nn...and have suggested she needs a good Lawyer. Well both Sherry and Levi ARE and have been getting representation from a very qualified Attorney by the name of Rex Butler. (who defends his clients very vigorously-pulls no punches)
He certainly has more qualifications than Mr. Kalytiak.

http://www.rexattys.com/

[research]

Apparently conservatism is so painful, it requires pain killer.

[aspiecelia]

The only reason this became an issue for the Department of Law in Alaska is Palin and her Palinistas are throwing a fit about it. Palin owns the DOL. Look at who she tried to appoint for attorney general. Look at who is the acting attorney general. Look at Colberg who advised her to do things against the law to help her get her unethical way. Choices about felons going to the lower 48 even for medical care are based on politics here. For all we know Sherry Jonhston's case may be mostly based on retaliation from Palin. I would not be surprised to find out her case is not at all what they made it out to be. If she can prove this the state of Alaska could be sued for not allowing her to go.

[AnnfromCA]

Imagination at work there. Levi's mom is on bail on a felony charge. The prosecutor is, by definition, very involved.

[aloha43]

A felony charge doesn't necessarily mean a person can't leave the state. In this case, they asked to leave, and the prosecutor said yes.

Why do you think there is an imagination at work here? You are ridiculously defending Palin again.
If you would just stop for a second and think about it, it is painfully obvious. The prosecutor said yes......until Palin waved her devilish wand, and suddenly Johnston shouldn't have left.

So obvious.

LOL

[AnnfromCA]

The case against her for trafficking looks weak to me, anyway. I think the illegal possession? Slam-dunk.

She lied. She said she needed to leave for family reasons. Going on Tyra is not about the family.

[2008CaliforniaFan]

You just lied Ann... but what is New.

Family reasons is the truth because her daughter is a minor. And Rex Butler the Attorney TOLD the Prosecutor the reason. It was in the ADN newspapers for days.
Are you saying the prosecutor doesn't read the newspaper...?

Oh... that would be just like Sarah Palin I guess. Oops

[aloha43]

It WAS for family reasons. To stand behind her family in a time of need. And if ever there was a time of need....it would be this. If the Johnston's don't get their word out there, they stand the chance of Palin keeping them from their rights. We know it is possible....think Troopergate.

[qdog112]

Technically it is about family. I am sure they earned income from the appearances, money they would not otherwise have earned.

The prosecutor has no case.

[LucyBelle97]

Then absolutely nothing sister Sarah is doing is about the family either.

[JackiChan]

Just goes to show that Tyra is the new Jerry. LULZ

[huffingt]

Instead of Ty ra and La rry Kin g, wouldn't it be better on Jer ry Sprin ger though?

[huffingt]

Instead of Tyra and Larry King, wouldn't it be better on Jerry Springer though?

[moonwatcher]

People can't help who their mother is and what she has done. Palins may be concerned about drug use when the baby is visiting the Levi home but Levi still has rights. As long as he is not on drugs, he should be able to see the baby. Did Levi get paid to visit Larry King? In order to have lawyers you have to have money. Sarah Palin has a large audience, Levi has to travel to have his voice heard. How about supervised visits? In this economy it is hard to find a job especially if you do not have a high school education. I would advise him to try to get at least a GED or go to a community college and keep looking for a job. Hire a lawyer and see to your rights.

[AnnfromCA]

He's got visitation.

[MKC]

You mean going to the Palin's house to see his son with them breathing down his neck? Oh, yeah, that sounds like visitation to me- not.

[mollymac]

Ann, what is your issue with Sarah Palin? Are you a relative or something? You must be a SarahPac member.

[bedfordny]

He said he hasn't seen the baby because ever since he did the Tyra Banks show the Palins have made it difficult to see him. Stating 'he's got visitation' does not mean legal visitation and certainly is at the discretion of the parent who has physical custody. (ie: Bristol Palin). When there appears to be problems with two unmarried exes involved in parenting, it is not all that unusual for custody and visitation to be worked out through the courts. The Palins are obviously giving him a hard time, hence his need for legal representation to preserve his parental rights.

[SoccerNana]

One hundred dollars says The Guvna had something to do with this. I mean, the two television appearances were WEEKS apart and the DA is just now saying something?

[davidwayneosedach]

They're getting as boringly obnoxious as Joe the Plumber.

[BIG JOHN]

I can't stop thinking how close the palin's and the johnston's were to the whitehouse. Let's not forget sista sarah was telling us how wonderful levi was and that he was going to marry her daughter. jerry, jerry, jerry.

[AnnfromCA]

I bet she still likes him. She simply doesn't like his choice here on how to handle this situation with the break-up.

He strikes me, even, as a nice guy who got talked into this gig by his mom.

[NOV42008]

He got talk into it by Sarah.

"She simply doesn't like his choice"? She shouldn't choose for everyone, and everything? Then, as the Republican say, "Less Government". This means Sarah also.

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

Ann, how do you know that? He doesn't seem that shy when momma Palin through him out there. Why are you so hard on his mother? Don't get me wrong. If the mother is guilty the courts will take care of her. The Palins started this not Levi and his family. Momma Palin's daddy is the first to say terrible things about Levi. Don't you think his mom has a right to defend her son?

[bedfordny]

Um, how do you know? Are you speaking for Bristol now too? What is so wrong with a young father wanted to ensure his rights regarding his child?

[Kalitipo]

and the ''base'' still think she'll be a great president come 2012,lol