An episode of A&E’s show “Accused: Guilty or Innocent” featuring the case of Emmalou Johnson premiered last night.

“Accused: Guilty or Innocent,” in its seventh season, is a true crime series that follows the accused and their defense team during the weeks leading up to trial and the days of the trial itself, opening a window into the defendant’s point of view of the judicial process.

In November 2021, Emmalou, who was 16 at the time, was arrested after she shot her boyfriend Jayden Paul Ramirez, 18, in the head with a 22-caliber pistol while lying in bed. She was initially arrested as a juvenile but was later indicted of second-degree murder in the Calcaiseu district court as an adult. Her case went to trial in March 2024 when she was 18.

Emmalou being tried as an adult made the case unique and an “extremely difficult situation,” said attorney Adam Johnson (no relation), one of Emmalou’s defense attorneys.

“There were some tough meetings that we had to have. It’s so difficult to explain to a 16-year-old that you’ve learned that they’re not going to charge them as a juvenile.”

The worst-case scenario for a juvenile is incarceration up to age 21, he explained. Since Emmalou was tried as an adult for second-degree murder, the worst-case scenario was life in prison.

“Because she was charged as an adult, she was facing all the adult consequences.”

Attorney Todd Clemons, who also represented Emmalou, said their position throughout the trial was that the shooting was an accident.

“There was never any question about her shooting him. She admitted it. She confessed to the police that she did it,” he explained. “It certainly wasn’t a case of charging the young lady with second-degree murder. We felt like at worst it was a negligent homicide.”

The decision to film the trial was up to Emmalou, Adam said. He was previously featured in an episode that premiered in December 2025 regarding a murder in Evangeline Parish. He and Clemons agree the show is an opportunity to educate the public on the criminal justice system.

“Accused: Guilty or Innocent” is unique in that it recounts the story from only the perspective of the accused. This approach humanizes defendants by providing their perspective on not only the trial but also the emotional bandwidth it takes to defend oneself.

“Most of the shows just give the big picture … This goes a little deeper to show you preparation involved,” Clemons said. “This perspective shows what it really takes from the accused’s perspective to stand up to the government and defend their rights.”

This is especially important in a world of true crime content that is presented from the prosecutor’s point of view, Adam said, citing low levels of empathy for defendants.

“It’s oversimplified. … The way the criminal justice system is portrayed on television is very skewed. … There’s probably 50 different law enforcement shows. … I think this program shows a real person in a very, very complicated situation.”

Spoilers

The case was presented during a bench trial overseen by Judge Kendrick Guidry in the 14th Judicial District Court. Emmalou was found not guilty of second-degree murder, averting a life sentence.

Adam said the verdict was especially rewarding because Emmalou denied an offer to plead guilty to negligent homicide and decided to go to trial. He called the decision brave, and what some would consider a “big gamble,” especially for someone who was only 18.

A negligent homicide sentence can be zero to five years in prison, but Emmalou would have likely faced probation, he said. Since she opted to go to trial, she faced the risk of a life sentence.

“She made the decision to stand on principle and not plead to a crime when she didn’t commit a crime,” Adam said.

“She was ready to go all the way at that point,” Clemons added. “If they had offered that at the beginning, it might have been a different result. I guess as an accused, once you make up your mind that you’re going all the way, there’s no turning back.”

The episode of “Accused: Guilty or Innocent” is now available for streaming on AETV.com.