Published August 24. 2017 02:46PM
A Philadelphia area woman pleaded guilty in Carbon County court on Tuesday to one count of involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence of a controlled substance in the death of her young daughter.
Lasheira Michelle Johnson, 28, of Chester, entered the pleas before Judge Joseph J. Matika.On July 20, 2015, Johnson was operating a vehicle northbound on the turnpike in Mahoning Township when she lost control. There were five people in the vehicle at the time. State police at Pocono said the vehicle rolled over twice. Johnson's daughter, Lanir Johnson, 3, was partially ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.Johnson and others who were injured were taken to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, for treatment. Troopers obtained a search warrant and secured blood test results on Johnson. Those results show she had illegal drugs in her system including cocaine and marijuana.Johnson did not say anything during the proceeding except to answer Matika's questions concerning her plea.Matika told Johnson that under state sentencing guidelines, she faces a minimum prison term of between nine and 16 months on the manslaughter count.Matika deferred sentencing because Johnson needs a drug and alcohol evaluation for the DUI count. He also ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.