Penn State tight end Theo Johnson has entered into Pennsylvania’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition pre-trial intervention program after being charged with an assault that took place in February.
Court documents say that Johnson will have to complete six months of an ARD. According to its website, Pennsylvania’s ARD program is geared mainly toward first-time offenders. The goal is to “make a fresh start” for the offenders. This is according to the Pennsylvania Office of Victim Services. After completing the program, participants have a chance for their charges to be dismissed and expunged. ARD is not a conviction.
Johnson had been charged with two misdemeanors— one for simple assault and one for criminal mischief— for a Feb. 11 incident that took place at the Sigma Chi Fraternity, in state college. the criminal complaint says. Court documents say that Johnson was asked to leave the event because he didn’t have a required wristband. The complaint says Johnson refused to leave and ended up punching the resident in the face.
The blow was severe enough for Mount Nittany Medical Center to diagnose the man with a concussion. Police wrote that his sunglasses, which allegedly cost upwards of $560 were broken due to the fight. Johnson has been charged with simple assault, a second-class misdemeanor, and criminal mischief, a third-degree misdemeanor.
Johnson had a preliminary hearing scheduled in late May, but decided to waive it.
A Windsor, Ontario native, Johnson attended Holy Names Catholic High School, where he was a consensus four-star recruit and the No. 1 overall prospect in Canada in the Class of 2020. Johnson played in seven games for Penn State in 2020 and 13 in 2021, when he had 19 catches for 213 yards and one touchdown.
Last season, Johnson was part of a solid tight-end trio featuring Brenton Strange and Tyler Warren. He ended the year with 328 yards and four touchdowns on 20 receptions and was named to the Mackey Award Watch List. Coming into this season, Johnson is in line to be Penn State’s No. 1 tight end after Strange declared for the NFL draft. Warren also will return to the tight end room in 2023.
It’s still unclear whether Johnson will face any football-related discipline.
