Susan Johnson who accused Southern Charm’s JD Madison of sexual assault, has hired an attorney to fight charges of filing a false police report.
Johnson claims that in 2017 during the solar eclipse she and another female entertained Madison and another male in her home. She claims that JD deliberately broke a glass as a diversion so that he could drug her drink. Later, while out on the town, she began feeling something was not right. She has no memories from that moment until she woke up in the guest bedroom of her house with JD Madison raping her.
She did not report the incident until August of 2018. Yesterday, police concluded their investigation and charged her with false reporting. They could have just dismissed the case for insufficient evidence. They did not, Instead they claimed her ” changing stories” were proof she was intentionally lying to the police department.
Today her attorney, Trey Harrell, is speaking out.
“Susan is going to fight this unfair, unfounded charge. She was severely intoxicated on the night in question and so naturally there are some inconsistencies in her recollection. Such inconsistencies do not make her a liar, and they certainly do not make her a criminal.”
That makes a lot of sense actually. She claimed she was drugged and suffered from memory loss.
“Susan does not remember sending any of the messages — or making any of the phone calls — that police are using as ‘evidence’ to dispute her recollection of what happened. And the fact police are charging her based on their ‘belief’ that she lied about what happened is absolutely unconscionable.
Wait, so their basis for the charge is that her allegations to the police while sober do not match up with drunken/drugged phone calls she made on the evening of her encounter with JD Madison?
“Not only is such a charge unfair to my client, it could have a chilling effect on other women who believe they have been similarly victimized. My client is innocent of this charge and intends to defend herself vigorously in court,” said Johnson’s attorney.”
This is officially a hot mess. Either the victim lied, or the police are charging an rape victim of filing a false report.
Yesterday, in addition to disparaging the looks of the possible victim, some suggested she was looking for a pay check. The woman lives in Mount Pleasant, a suburb of sorts of Charleston. Johnson is aware of the the Charleston news reports. She knows JD Madison has gone bankrupt and lost his restaurant. She also knows he was arrested days before she finally came forward for writing bad checks. Where is this money she is coming for? What is her motivation to lie?
Yesterday, I had faith in the Mount Pleasant Police Department. I presumed they had proof that the accuser lied or mislead them in some way. Today I am just confused. You would think they would just dismiss the charges against JD Madison if they didn’t believe the accuser. But to file felony charges against her, they would need strong evidence.
Do they have strong evidence? Will this go to trial? Should her attorney will sue the police department for civil damages?
This situation just gets more confusing by the day.
Even yesterday I felt a little weird that the police said they arrested her over” inconsistencies” . I had something slipped into my drink at a concert. Apparently I hit the ground and a nurse happened to be next to me. I was taking to the hospital. I could remember only bits a pieces of the night.
I hope these hillbilly cops don’t have it wrong. Otherwise this is a huge set back for women
At this point, either way it plays out is a huge setback for women. It’s all just of clusterfuck of incompetency.
Excuse you? I live in Mount Pleasant and this is the furthest thing from a hillbilly town. You are uninformed and ignorant.
The cops do NOT have this wrong. Of course Susan’s attorney will try and throw back blame on the MPPD(and if you believe everything attorneys say, then I have a bridge I’d love to sell you). If the police merely saw “inconsistencies” in her story, they would have dropped the investigation and called it a day. They have evidence proving she lied and that she falsified a police report…that is why they arrested her. Period. The “good old boy’s club” might be a thing in Charleston, but it’s not here. People in Mount Pleasant couldn’t care less about JD Madison, and neither do the cops. If anything, they are probably disappointed they couldn’t find anything to charge him with.
I don’t know Susan personally, but we have a few mutual friends and they all told me she is high drama and would absolutely make this story up. The facts will come out…just wait and let everything play out.
Susan isn’t the one you should feel sorry here. Feel sorry for the women of Mount Pleasant. Because of her bs, if a woman in Mount Pleasant does get sexually assaulted and tries to go to the cops, do you think cops will believe her? I don’t think so. What I do know is that the Mount Pleasant Police Department would not go after an educated 53 year old woman for no reason. This arrest is not baseless, and to suggest otherwise is erroneous.
“They have evidence proving she lied and that she falsified a police report…that is why they arrested her.” Why do you think they haven’t stated their evidence?
I’m not being argumentative, I am truly interested in what the evidence is. I’m on the fence about the entire situation. There do seem to be phone records according to one commenter that back of the phone call from Elizabeth during the time of the alleged rape so if that is true, and I don’t know that it is, that would support the alleged victim. And you having friends that know Susan and think she is the kind to make up this sort of thing, (for what reason I don’t know) that can be cancelled out by all the streets of Charleston talking about JD being the kind of guy who would do this, coupled with the whole issue of drugging and raping girls that has been alleged regarding several men in Charleston. I believe I published that blind just before the alleged victim filed a report.
I do feel.sorry for all the women in Mount Pleasent.
You seem high drama and it sounds like you have a dog in this fight. I also don’t know if she’s telling the truth or not but I can tell you this much. JD is a proven criminal and so is his CONVICTED buddy Thomas.
I’m going to go with my gut and say that men get the benefit of the doubt in your hillbilly county
Her “hillbilly county is the same hillbilly county that Charleston is in. One of the most beautiful counties in the country and you probably could not afford to live there unless youo shared and apartment with Ashley Jacobs.
Oh wow Tamara. I was responding to southern social for being extremely rude to me. Not you.
I’ve always stuck up for you and shared your stuff on SM
I understand who you were talking to, but wanted to clarify that Charleston and Mount Pleasant are far from hill billy territory.
You clearly have never been to Charleston County, which is a blessing for us. I have more money in my third bank account than you’ll ever have in your lifetime. TAKE A SEAT.
It is my understanding the phone records do not back up Susan’s story and are possibly evidence against her. Regardless, the MPPD don’t need to publicly respond to Susan’s attorney…they don’t need to publicly respond to
anyone. Until it goes to court or is settled, it’s an ongoing investigation so they won’t be discussing evidence publicly. Simple police protocol.
We have a very solid PD. I have no doubt in my mind that they would never arrest a middle aged woman without cause. Her story has changed multiple times, which I believe could be due to the fact the she was inebriated. But if she can’t recall the facts, then she should state that and not just make things up as she goes. That is not acceptable. Statements she made contradicted findings the police discovered during the investigation. This is why the police not only dropped the investigation but arrested her. I don’t understand why you can’t wrap your head around the fact that this woman lied. Instead, you immediately assume that this has to some kind of police payoff. Where is YOUR evidence to support that?
I have no dog in this fight. JD IS a criminal and a pig. Despite that, he seems to have no shortage of attractive women. I’ve seen him around town several times, and twenty something blondes seem to be his type. He’s not chasing after 53 year old women with hair shorter than his…he’s just not. You don’t have to understand it or believe it, but the locals here know it.
Just because he’s friends with Trashy Ravenel, it doesn’t mean JD assaults women. Similarly, just because someone is a terrible person, you can’t just make up a sexual assault story against him and throw him in jail. That’s not how the justice system works, not in this hillbilly town.
Thanks for this post and information. Sorry for the delay getting it up, it was in the moderation forum probably because of the rape allegations and I was not online today until the afternoon and then had a big story break that took several hours to get up!
I hope you will keep us informed as things progress! Also, can I move in with you? I ADORE Mount Pleasant and IOP.
You all keep talking about my bank account. Let’s be clear I probably have more then the two of you put together.
Stop with this JD can get a hot chick, and this lady isn’t the ideal victim. How dare you. As you both should know it’s not about looks but about power and control.
I’m done with this. You should see how power will swing.
I will see my self out of this . I’m ashamed to have ever been here.
Number 1, noone cares how much money you have in your 3rd bank account SouthernSocial – a lot of people who have more money than you would not stoop to the crassness of expecting their claimed bank accounts to give them more credibility or comment value than other people.
Number 2, your own facts are not accurate. The Police charge sheet published in mainstream media clearly stated Susan’s DOB as 18/12/1975. This means she turned 43 last December and was 42 when she laid her complaint, and even younger at the time of the incident.
Noone looks good in a mugshot. TT published another much more attractive photo of Susan with this story. Many women of around 40 look much younger, and at night just about anyone can, and can be wearing hair extensions.
Number 3: sexual assault has little to do with looks, and your aging Susan 10 years and belittli G her mugshot appearance is unhelpful, if not mean-spirited.
Just let the process continue and Susan’s lawyer try to make sense of it all. Too early to judge this one.
lol 53 year old woman with hair shorter than his, but really wow, did not know he filed bankruptcy ,etc. didn’t he have some sort of liquor business, is he spending all the money on these young women ?? Elizabeth is a beautiful good woman is she still standing by his side??
Just when you think you’ve seen the depths of depravity, the story deepens. I was angry at her for making false accusations, now I worry she’s been doubly victimized. This story breaks my heart.
I really think the only way we can keep the police from protecting these good old boys is by putting them in the national spotlight. As long as they can work in the local shadows there are too many greased palms.
This is a horrible precedent to set. Obviously, I don’t know the circumstances other than what is in the media but this sounds like an overreaction by the PD.
I am really pleased she has now hired an attorney to represent her. As you seem to me to be saying, how could police expect a drugged woman to be totally consistent in her memory of an incident??? . Some things she remembers have been proven – like Elizabeth’s call to JD which the complainant said interrupted the assault. I fear she may be being victimised and made an example of by the “biys’ club”.
“boys’club”
Wonder what the other woman there that night remembers? Is she supporting or disputing Susan’s recollection?
Wasn’t that woman taken to the hospital?
I think that’s correct. Hmmmmm
I hope the truth will come out. If she knowingly lied, shame on her. If it’s just inconsistencies, come on, dig deeper. The haters on IG are loving this, saying it’s all a huge conspiracy to take down two fine men. They include Mr. Ravenel as one of the two fine men. They are convinced he will be found innocent because a few ladies have banded together to lie and conspire about them ???
I also thought that considering his very public money problems she surely couldn’t have thought she’d land some payoff. It’s all very strange indeed.
I think that if you are going to go to the trouble to fight to get the charges re-instated and to clear your own name, there is something there.
I agree, what a clusterfuck.
Dismissing charges is normal. Turning around and prosecuting the alleged victim for a felony is just odd. At least she seems to have retained a decent attorney because this extreme prosecution seems to be sending the message of “don’t mess with one of us” regardless of the truth. A mess indeed. Sad.
When I read the initial post yesterday, at first I felt infuriated at someone filing false charges. As I learned more details, my feelings changed. I am a survivor of a violent assault and drug rape. I was drugged and remember everything crystal clear that night up until after drinking the tainted drink (I was not intoxicated prior). After that it goes black aside from occasional flashes and some feelings of fear for my life, vague memory of being strangled, and flashes of a Jekyll/Hyde persona until the next morning when I woke up in extreme pain with bruises all over my body, a giant bruise on my back with a gash that had bled and three giant knots on my head, later diagnosed as a concussion. I did not even remember being rescued from my assailant’s room, or even being there, or the fact that under my jacket I had no sweater or bra on when I got back. I did not remember that at some point during the time I was taken, I texted “help” just “help” on a group chat to friends back home. I do not remember speaking on the phone with my friend who called trying to figure out what was going on, where I was, who told me I needed to get out of the room and run and trying to get back to my hotel room, but couldn’t because the room key was not working and I could only go to the lobby. I do not remember telling my friend that “if he catches me trying to escape he’s going to choke and hit me again” Nothing. I do not remember going to the lobby barefoot and naked under a winter coat, pleading with the front desk that I just wanted to go back to my room on the x floor, while my friend stayed on the line (verifiable by phone records which I provided). My name was on the hotel room, but they refused to give me a new key. I do not remember the assailant returning from a smoke break while I was in the lobby, and inspite of my friend hearing me repeatedly plead to go back to the x floor to my room, they put me back in the elevator with the monster (who lived at that hotel during the week and apparently had told them I was his girlfriend. I was not. I had engaged in polite conversation after being approached earlier that night and had also informed the person I was in a relationship – he then spent the majority of the time I remember talking to the person I was with, clearly part of a routine). I remember none of this. I both hate and am thankful that I can’t, my nightmares are bad enough.
Thankfully, my friend had heard enough to know what floor the monster was on, contacted the person I was traveling with (who had gone up to the room to use the bathroom, came down not even 10 mins later to find me gone and was told i left to go to a bar – not true) I do not remember texting my friends that I was back in my room and safe. I remember none of this. If it weren’t for the person I was traveling with insisting the next day we go to the police and hospital. I would have not left the room the rest of the trip/tried to fly home earlyl. I did not want to move. I can 100% understand why someone would not immediately go and report and have a kit done. I did everything I was supposed to do, other than I did not have the cops immediately called – because i had zero comprehension of what had happened /was going on. I had said I was fine. I do not remember it. The next day between the intense pain, tremors and sickness from being drugged and not wanting to deal with the reality I did not go to report until the afternoon, after the hotel refused to have the police called. This happened in a foreign country, at a major chain, that I will never stay at – or any of the partners of which there are many again. If this woman is truly a victim, I feel for her. I know the anger she must be feeling. I have felt it for almost a year now as I have tried to get this monster prosecuted so that he can never hurt another woman. I am certain this is a serial case. I am lucky to have survived. I am afraid another woman will not be as lucky. I don’t know if it is a worldwide thing, or just outside the US, but it is nearly impossible to get a conviction. This monster claimed I asked to be beaten and choked and it was determined that my injuries (concussion and bleeding?!) were “acceptable” with this, so they would not even pursie assault and despite all the evidence I provided – my story never changing. Etc that it even though the police believed me, it would be a he said she said and because I do not remember. It infuriates me that the victim is treated like the suspect. Another of many reasons why women wait a while or never report. I hope if this woman truly was assaulted she continues to fight. If this is proven to be a false report, I hope she is prosecuted. For those commenting on her looks – sexual assault is about POWER and having that power over the victim. Sorry for going on for so long, this situation has really struck a nerve. I hope justice, whatever it is in the case is served. I will be following this story. Thank you Tamara for your reporting!
Oh my God. I’m so sorry.
Please name this hotel so I can never stay there again.
Marriott. I will sleep in a tent on the street before stepping foot in a Marriott or partner hotel ever again. The hotel/employees were complicit in covering this up. I am not going to get into details at this time, but it is sickening and scary. I am sure it was to cover their butt for legal purposes, but my intention was never to go after the hotel. I want this monster in jail where he can not hurt other women. That being said, I do believe this should be exposed, but for now I am still fighting, and holding onto hope that justice will prevail.
What a horrible thing to happen to you by the rapist and the judicial system. I am so sorry that this happen to you. I am grateful that you survived your assault. You are a very strong woman who hasn’t let this break you.
Thank you for you support. I appreciate it.
Thank you for your sharing your experiences Survivor. God bless you for going forward.
I’m going to reserve judgment one way or the other. She has had a lot of time, some of it presumably sober, to get the dates correct on her complaint. The solar eclipse was apparently not on the date she claims this incident happened. That seems incredibly improbable or sloppy to not make sure your dates are correct in your allegation.
Further, if she was texting and calling people on the date she claims this happened II would assume the police have talked to the people who took her phone calls or receive her texts. Perhaps they didn’t corroborate her story. Who knows at this point. There just isn’t enough information. Unless you’ve got something that could substantiate your story it’s just kind of he said she said. He may also have an alibi. Much more will surely come out and until it does there’s no way to form any opinion.
Thank you., really. My husband is a lawyer and I went to law school and the one thing to remember is, until you know facts, you know nuttin”
Survivor’s story is awful, and not rare. But there are liars around. JD’s accuser’s story is full of holes, as you point out on the critical date. Reminds me of the Kavanaugh fiasco, when that Ford lady , nice as she seemed, was flaked out on all sorts of stuff, had given all kinds of differing stories before, and refused to turn over her therapy notes. My husband’s firm defends some of those cases and believe me you don’t always “believe the woman.”
Example: I was watching Million Dollar Listing LA couple of weeks ago. The moronic billionaire’s daughter on it, woman named Tracy, was selling Rose McGoawan’s house in LA. The sob story was McGowan was going broke because of litigation with Harvey Weinstein and had to flee LA.
Umm…Rose McGown has zero lawsuits with Weinstein. What she has is a criminal conviction for possession of. a lotta cocaine on a flight to DC. She didn’t flee to Paris for the fashion shows — you sign up months more more ahead for those. All bullshit. #don’tBelieveAnyoneTillYouKnow.
Marina, you are an uninformed cunt spewing opinions based on zero facts.
As for Rose
“Rose McGowan has shared an email exchange between Harvey Weinstein and his attorney Blair Berk in which they discuss framing the actress following her arrest for cocaine possession.
‘Obviously trying to silence her,’ wrote Weinstein after Berk sent him a link to coverage of McGowan’s arrest.
Berk then fired back: ‘I took care of getting that arrest warrant issued against her back on February 1 just so there would be no fingerprints. Damn.’
That email was shared by McGowan after Justice James M. Burke ruled last week that Weinstein could be represented by attorneys Jose Baez and Ronald Sullivan Jr. in his criminal trial.
This move was allowed despite the fact that McGowan was recently represented by the men in the Virginia court case that resulted from the charge of possession of a controlled substance.
McGowan now says she was convinced to take a plea by the men, a decision she now regrets because she believes that Baez and Sullivan were working for Weinstein the entire time. ”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6654439/Harvey-Weinstein-talked-framing-Rose-McGowan-cocaine-arrest-hired-away-lawyers.html
You know what, you are clearly too vile to attempt to educate. lumping JD Madison in with Weinstein and Kavanaugh and supporting them all tells me all I need to know about you. You are the type of evil woman on this earth who makes me pray that there is a fiery hell because you certainly have a special place in the hottest portion.
Get the fuck out of this community, You are not welcome here.
Neither are you! Keep your crap to yourself.
Susan Neal, who are you talking to??
Go fuck yourself. Read Survivors post over and over until you get it.
Jesus Christ. Are you serious with this bullshit?
She’s blocked. But it is important to note that there are many women like her that hate other women and support male abusers. She posted under another name that was banned previous. She now has and IP block. The thing is when I go to ban someone I see all of there posts. Every single one of hers was full of drips and drops of vitriol toward women. And the constant reminder that her husband is a lawyer. I doubt that, but if he is he’s clearly one of the ambulance chasing slime buckets.
Thanks!! I was just coming on to respond to her bullshit and was mightily relieved to see you swept her out like the trash she is.
It makes me SICK what Thomas and JD get away with in Charleston! These men are SO BAD and could get away with murder!
I would not be surprised if they have dead bodies buried in their back yards. I believe this woman and I believe the cops are crooked as fuck. There is no reason for her to lie. I am so disgusted that OTHER WOMEN were disparaging her looks a a if to say only young, beautiful women get raped. 80 year women get raped for God’s sake! Nothing pisses me off like a female misogynist. JD and Ravenal and any woman who defends or enables them should rot in prison and then hell.
My first deletion!
I have no idea what the truth is here, so all I can do is hope that justice, whomevers side that may lie on, prevails. That’s really all anyone should be doing here. These types of stories are so hard because it’s usually he said/she said and how do you know who is being truthful? That’s what makes it especially worse when any false claims are made. I just pray the truth will be known and whomever is the guilty party will have appropriate consequences for their actions.
I am extremely curious about what the police think they have. Because all women know that you have to be a virginal celibate nun who has been raped on video and then immediately goes to the hospital and files a police report and shows the exact textbook correct emotions (don’t cry too much or too little) for anyone to take them seriously and avoid the victim blaming/shaming. Oh, And by the way, try not to trip on the notoriously uneven historic sidewalks in “hillbilly” Charleston as you walk from the Louis Vuitton store to the Gucci store. No matter how this story turns out, it is just very sad. Kudos to the women who have been through this and had the courage to step forward. And kudos to all the police departments who took the stories of these women seriously and went after the perpetrators.
I like your comment.
Sadly, it wouldn’t surprise me if this was SRA, given the eclipse. People like JD don’t get rich and powerful overnight without “connections”…Since JD has rendered himself financially worthless, why does he still have a semblance of power and control? He might have dirt on his powerful connections, who are obligated to have his back. PD actions and statements seem hella dirty.