Lansing man takes not guilty by reason of insanity plea in May 2020 murder

LANSING — A Lansing man has accepted a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity in connection with a May 2020 homicide. 

Damien Williamson, 26, was charged with shooting and killing 41-year-old Dontya Johnson on May 3 at an apartment complex in the 2300 block of East Jolly Road. Johnson, who was from Muskegon, was found dead just before noon in the complex. 

Williamson accepted a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity Wednesday for murder and felony firearm. He was sentenced to the Michigan Center for Forensic Psychiatry, where he will be held for 60 days for testing.

After that, the probate court can order he be held indefinitely until the forensics center deems he is fit to be released, said Ingham County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mike Cheltenham. 

Before accepting the plea agreement, Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Clinton Canady III examined psychiatric reports and held a hearing that determined there was evidence that showed Williamson committed the crime and that he was legally insane at the time of the crime.

Williamson has been in the Ingham County Jail with no bail since May 2020 and will be held there until he is taken to the forensics center. 

Contact reporter Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95.