No charges pressed in pedestrian fatality

The Juneau District Attorney's Office has decided not to press criminally negligent homicide charges against a driver whose car struck and killed a pedestrian last month, police said today.

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The pedestrian's family says it plans to file a civil lawsuit against the driver, Theodora L. Johnnie, 22. Her pickup truck struck Sophia Harris, 77, on Sept. 27 as Harris was crossing Glacier Highway at a crosswalk near the Super Kmart, police said last month.

Sophia Harris was the granddaughter of Juneau co-founder Richard T. Harris.

Johnnie's phone was out of service when the Empire attempted to contact her today. Attorneys in the DA's office were at a conference in Anchorage and were unavailable for comment.

Lt. Walt Boman said the District Attorney's Office told police Monday afternoon there was insufficient evidence to support a charge of criminally negligent homicide. The message came via the office's written response to charges filed by police. Police recommended a negligent homicide charge, a felony, to the district attorney late last month.

Boman said in a September interview with the Empire that neither drugs, alcohol or excessive speed appeared to be factors in the incident.

Harris' younger brother, Casey Harris, said the family plans to file a civil suit against Johnnie.

"It's only natural," said Harris. "My sister's dead. ... She (Johnnie) has insurance, so a lawsuit doesn't mean we will necessarily go after the girl. That's why she has insurance.

"I don't think she should be punished if the DA found that she did nothing criminally wrong. I'm sure it's bad enough she has to live with what she did for the rest of her life. But a civil suit is just part of the process of things."

Harris did not say how much money the family would seek in damages.

Melanie Plenda can be reached at mplenda@juneauempire.com.