Murder suspect arraigned

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MICHAEL MARESH
MICHAEL MARESH, mmaresh@lahontanvalleynews.com
May 9, 2008

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A 49-year-old Fallon man accused of killing his roommate Monday night was arraigned in Churchill County Justice Court on Thursday.

Michael Johnson is accused of stabbing and killing 51-year-old Lisa Onyon, his live-in girlfriend. Johnson's arraignment was to advise him of the open murder charge he faces.

According to the Churchill County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called out Monday night to a residence in the 1100 block of McLean Road by Johnson and discovered Onyon had been fatally stabbed in the chest.

Johnson told the court he did not have a full-time job and was doing odd jobs around the city that earned him about $100 a week. He told the court he had an illness that prevented him from holding a full-time job.

Churchill County Undersheriff Jim Wood said the background or occupations of Onyon and Johnson is not something the CCSO researches during its investigations. On the booking form, Johnson's occupation is listed as a laborer. However, an e-mail from a relative of Johnson said they were unemployed.

Public Defender Paul Drakulich was appointed to represent Johnson.

An open-murder charge means Johnson could be charged with either first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter. The charge will be based on the results of the investigation.

Johnson will make an appearance in justice court today for a status hearing to set a date for Johnson's preliminary. Johnson remains in the Churchill County Jail on a $1 million bail.