Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

JOHNSON CITY – Charisma Johnston, 22, of Hubert, N.C., surrendered to authorities on Feb. 25, 2025, at the Washington County Courthouse, where she was taken into custody and served with an arrest warrant from the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD).

Johnston has been charged with theft over $2,500, theft over $1,000, and one count of deceptive business practices. The charges stem from an investigation into a complaint that she was paid $3,500 to board and train a German shepherd. The victim was later contacted by Johnston, who claimed the dog had died in a vehicle crash.

During the investigation, JCPD learned that Johnston had been arrested in Warren and Wake counties in North Carolina, where she faced a total of 11 counts of animal cruelty. In an interview with detectives, Johnston admitted to lying to several clients about their dogs being killed in vehicle crashes.

Anyone with information regarding Johnston’s business practices is asked to contact the JCPD Criminal Investigations Division at 423-434-1007.