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Perhaps some seek to criticize Sixth Circuit District Attorney Tim Cotton after he approved a plea deal for accused killer Jalin Johnson last week.

Walk a mile in his shoes.

Johnson was accused of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Scottie Rodgers in 2019, as well as a number of other associated crimes like conspiracy and aggravated assault.

Cotton was elected in November 2023 and took office in January 2024. He has been in office since January 2005. What he and his staff have accomplished since that time, compared to previous years, is remarkable.

In 2024, Cotton’s office closed 223 cases in Adams County. That compares to 31 cases closed in 2023, 56 in 2022 and 24 in 2021.

The number of cases successfully presented to grand juries has risen in the same manner compared to previous years.

The Johnson case was one inherited by Cotton and his office, and plainly put, it was a mess. As often happens, witnesses disappear and memories fade and bringing an alleged criminal to justice fades with each passing day. And more and more these days, witnesses of crimes are frightened for their lives and refuse to get involved. That makes the jobs of law enforcement officers and prosecutors much more difficult.

Cotton dismissed Johnson’s original indictment in an attempt to cultivate a stronger case. He reindicted Johnson, and when he went to trial, an eyewitness who was to tell a jury what he saw ignored a subpoena and refused to testify.

Cotton made the best decision available to him, short of a jury finding Johnson not guilty.

We applaud Cotton and his staff for the work they are doing, which has gotten numerous bad guys off the streets. We are encouraged by his office’s success, and know we are safer because of what he and his office is doing to work hand in hand with law enforcement to successfully prosecute criminals and make our community a safer place.