Criminal justice reformer arrested after torso found in New York apartment

A Criminal Justice Reform Advocate Arrested for Murder in New York City

A criminal justice reform advocate who was released from prison last year and was recently a guest on a high-profile podcast has been arrested after police found a headless torso in a New York City apartment, according to authorities.

Arrest and Charges

Sheldon Johnson, 48, faces a charge of second-degree murder following the discovery, local jail records showed.

Victim Identification

Investigators identified the alleged victim in the case as 44-year-old Collin Small. They did not specify his relationship to Johnson, but the New York Post quoted police sources who said the pair may have fallen out while spending time together in the state prison colloquially known as Sing Sing.

Advocacy and Background

Johnson, who spent more than two decades imprisoned in connection with a violent robbery, was released in May and pursued a career working as a counselor for at-risk youth through the Queens Defenders, which provides legal representation to people who are charged with crimes but are unable to afford attorneys. Across the US, formerly incarcerated people are often very effectively employed working in such roles.

Johnson also spoke publicly in favor of prioritizing rehabilitation for people accused of crimes rather than incarceration. In one notable appearance during his advocacy, Johnson went on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast in February to talk about how he went to prison and then had turned his life around.

Discovery of Remains

Police said they found Small’s remains while checking on him at the request of his Bronx apartment building’s superintendent.

The superintendent had been told by residents that they had heard two gunshots coming from within Small’s sixth-floor apartment early Tuesday, as well as someone saying the words: “Please don’t – I have a family.”

Johnson was at the apartment in question when officers arrived to check on Small, and they detained him while they obtained a warrant to search the place. The officers found Small’s torso and one of his feet in a large bin.

Small’s other foot, and his arms, legs and head, were found inside the apartment’s freezer, the New York Daily News reported, citing sources familiar with the case.

Arrest and Charges

Police allege Johnson shot Small to death and dismembered his corpse. Johnson reportedly told journalists “I’m innocent” as he was led out of a police station in handcuffs. Investigators booked him into jail Thursday on charges of murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Prior Conviction and Lawsuit

Johnson’s arrest came after records showed he had been released from prison last year. He had been jailed in 1999 after being convicted of attempted murder and robbery.

In a 2021 lawsuit, Johnson alleged that the crime for which he was imprisoned happened after he was abused repeatedly at a group home to which he was sent when he was 11, the New York Daily News reported.

Johnson said on Rogan’s show that he also grew up in Harlem in the care of people who were deaf. He said he was a high-ranking member of the Bloods street gang when his imprisonment started but had cut ties from the group by about 2005.

“I really said, ‘I have to change my life,’” Johnson said on the episode, appearing alongside Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice director Josh Dubin. “I have to change my life. I just can’t do this.

“I had a wife, I had kids, I had family still – my son was growing up. He was hearing stories of my so-called notoriety. I just didn’t want to be that dad.”

Dubin called Johnson “a miracle” on the show. On the other hand

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
   • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres

Analysis

The article addresses issues related to criminal justice reform, violence, and access to justice. These issues are connected to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Target 16.1 aims to reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere, which is relevant to the article’s discussion of a murder case. Target 16.3 focuses on promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice for all, which relates to the criminal justice system and the need for fair legal representation.

The article also touches on SDG 5: Gender Equality. Target 5.2 calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls in both public and private spheres. While the article does not explicitly mention gender-based violence, it provides an example of violence committed against a man, highlighting the broader issue of violence that affects individuals of all genders.

There are no specific indicators mentioned in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, indicators such as crime rates, access to legal representation, and public perception of safety can be used to assess progress in achieving SDG 16 targets. Similarly, indicators related to gender-based violence and perceptions of safety for women can be used to measure progress towards SDG 5 targets.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: theguardian.com

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