Lindsay Johnson, a 34-year-old night nanny accused of aggravated child abuse, will not stand trial for a second time in September as originally planned after she opted to enter a plea in return for reduced charges.
Summit County jurors in May found Johnson not guilty on five counts of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony. However, the jury was unable to reach a consensus regarding three aggravated child abuse counts tied to specific head injuries and two rib fractures. Third District Judge Richard Mrazik declared a partial mistrial and scheduled a second trial in September for prosecutors to try the three remaining charges.
The trial has since been cancelled, with court documents indicating Johnson pleaded no contest to the remaining charges last week. No contest pleas mean a defendant is not disputing the indictment and is willing to accept the court’s punishment without formally admitting guilt.
Two of Johnson’s charges were dismissed as a result of the plea, and the third charge was reduced to a third-degree felony.
Johnson was technically sentenced to serve up to five years in prison, but Mrazik suspended her prison sentence in favor of a 36-month probation period. Her sentencing prohibits Johnson from any job involving contact with minors or that places her in a position of “supervision, authority or trust over minors.”
Johnson was arrested in late 2024 after a 6-week-old child in her care was admitted to Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital with brain injuries, broken ribs and a broken femur. She was initially charged with eight counts of aggravated child abuse, seven of which have since been dropped or dismissed.
Summit County prosecutors in May called a team of doctors who treated the child at the time of his injuries to the stand throughout the weeklong proceeding. Their testimony centered on the specific trauma the infant experienced and how injuries may appear differently in babies than an adult would expect.
For example, one doctor said “shaken baby syndrome,” or head trauma caused by shaking or roughhousing with an infant, often appears as internal injuries, so parents or caregivers may not see visible bruising, cuts or other signs of harm.
Johnson’s defense attorneys relied on similar arguments.
They said it was possible the baby, who was born prematurely and struggled with other health issues before the alleged abuse, had unknowingly been hurt at an earlier point in time, with symptoms presenting themselves after Johnson’s overnight shift with the child.
Johnson also took the stand to testify in her defense. She emphasized her attachment to the children she cares for and said her role as a night nanny is to provide support to families. She denied all allegations of harming the baby.
A restitution hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sept. 25.