Athens woman indicted for allegedly starving children

By Joe Johnson

A county grand jury has indicted a 26-year-old Athens woman on cruelty charges for allegedly leaving several young children alone without food for over 12 hours.

Janinya Chante Johnson, 26, of Towne View Place, was charged with four felony counts each of first and second degree-degree cruelty to children, according to the indictment filed Tuesday in Clarke County Superior Court.

The indictment stems from Johnson’s arrest in August concerning her alleged neglect of four children who ranged in age from 1 to 7 years old.

Her relationship to the children is described only as a guardian and she is alleged to have caused them to suffer “excessive physical and mental pain.”

Johnson remains free on bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on April 6th.

Johnson