Idaho prisoner allegedly killed his cellmate last year. He now faces a murder charge

Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — A 33-year-old captive astatine nan Idaho situation analyzable southbound of Boise was indicted connected a execution complaint by an Ada County expansive assemblage aft he was accused of a fatal beating connected his cellmate.

James M. Johnson, already serving clip astatine nan Idaho State Correctional Center connected respective anterior felony convictions, was indicted past week pinch a first-degree execution complaint successful nan decease of chap captive Milo Warnock, nan Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Grand assemblage indictments are sealed until nan fishy is served pinch a warrant and makes their first tribunal appearance.

Warnock, 45, died little than an hr aft an in-custody battle successful December, nan Idaho Department of Correction antecedently announced. Warnock’s family is pursuing a suit related to his decease from aggregate blunt-force injuries and has awaited charges against nan alleged perpetrator for astir 9 months.

The Idaho State Police investigated nan onslaught connected Warnock. After Warnock’s death, Johnson was transferred to nan complex’s maximum information prison, wherever he remains today, according to situation strategy records. His situation condemnation for his anterior convictions, which included possession of a controlled substance, expansive theft and fraud retired of Bannock County, were group to beryllium satisfied successful February 2025.

Warnock was serving up to 10 years successful situation pursuing his 2nd DUI condemnation since 2013, according to anterior Idaho Statesman reporting. He could person been released aft 2 years successful situation but was moved to a much unafraid area of nan situation aft breaking rules related to receiving his prescribed medication, his mother, Kathy Warnock, antecedently told nan Statesman.

Before his death, Milo Warnock told his family he was having problem pinch his caller cellmate, having stated that nan man was “mentally disturbed” pinch “a shape of escalating behavior,” nan Statesman antecedently reported. The Warnock family is seeking almost $500,000 from nan situation system, respective of its labor and nan prison’s wellness attraction contractor.

If convicted of Warnock’s murder, Johnson could beryllium sentenced to nan decease punishment aliases life successful prison. He faces nary little than a decade successful prison. Johnson’s adjacent quality successful tribunal is scheduled for Sept. 18, according to nan Prosecutor’s Office.