MONTFORT — Four people were arrested in a search of a Montfort house where a 17-year-old girl was found dead Oct. 1.
A Grant County Sheriff’s Office news release said the arrests were not tied to the investigation into the death of Addison Rose Colomer, who died in the house at 301 W. Main St. Oct. 1.
Iowa County authorities arrested Christian Jerrett, 21, for selling harmful material to a child knowing the child’s age.
Jerrett’s arrest was from an ongoing investigation by the Iowa County Investigations Team with a victim younger than 16 who the Sheriff’s Office said received photographs of a sexual nature through social media from a man.
The Southwest Wisconsin Emergency Response Team and the Richland–Iowa–Grant Drug Task Force also participated in the search warrant. During the search, law enforcement found suspected illegal drugs, resulting in a second search warrant.
Grant County authorities then arrested Ashton Johnson, 19, on maintaining a drug trafficking place, possession with intent to deliver THC, and bail jumping.
Authorities also arrested Linda Johnson, 72, on maintaining a drug trafficking place, party to possession of narcotic drugs, party to possession of cocaine, and bail jumping.
Christopher Johnson, 44, is being referred to the Grant County District Attorney with the recommendation he be charged with possession of narcotic drugs and possession of cocaine.
The Johnsons and another person who lives at the house face other charges.
Ashton C. Johnson stood mute in Grant County Circuit Court Aug. 5 to possession with intent of up to 200 grams THC. A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf, according to court records.
A status conference will be held Oct. 7. He faces up to 3½ years in prison and $10,000 fine if convicted of that charge.
Christopher Johnson will have a status conference in Iowa County Circuit Court Sept. 15 on second- or subsequent-offense party to possession with intent of 5 to 10 grams heroin, second- or subsequent-offense party to possession with intent of 10 to 50 grams fentanyl, second- or subsequent-offense party to maintaining a drug trafficking place, party to possession of drug paraphernalia as a repeat offender, and two counts of felony bail jumping as a repeat offender.
He faces up to 25 years in prison and $100,000 in fines on the drug possession charges.
Christopher Johnson pleaded not guilty June 20 to felony retail theft of $500 to $5,000 and an additional felony bail jumping charge for a 2025 incident, and fourth-offense operating while intoxicated, operating after revocation (refusal), fourth-offense operating with a restricted controlled substance, two additional felony bail jumping charges and two misdemeanor bail jumping charges for a 2023 incident. A status conference was held Friday.
Linda Johnson made an initial Iowa County Circuit Court appearance June 30 on a felony charge of threat to cause bodily harm to certain individuals involved with a court or legal system, for an incident April 17.
After a status conference Aug. 11 a hearing to waive her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17. She faces up to six years in prison and $10,000 fine if convicted.
Jennifer Jerrett, 50, is charged in Grant County with misappropriating ID information to obtain money, a felony, and misdemeanor theft of up to $2,500 in movable property, for an incident March 23.
A bench warrant was issued after she failed to appear for a status conference Aug. 3, according to court records.
No charges have been filed in connection with the death of Colomer, whose sister, Maddie Deutsch, said Colomer “was found dead in someone else’s house of a supposed self-inflicted gun shot wound.”
Sheriff Craig Reukauf told WKOW-TV in Madison the cause of Colomer’s death was ruled undetermined by the Grant County Coroner’s Office.
Reukauf said the Sheriff’s Office wants to talk to anyone who had contact with Colomer before her death. Sheriff’s deputies responded to the call Oct. 1 around 2:35 a.m. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sheriff’s Sgt. Mark Schwarz, 608-723-2157.
Deutsch said her family is looking for anyone who was in Montfort between Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. and Oct. 1 at 3 a.m., or anyone who recognizes a dark-colored diesel flatbed truck or a green Ford F-150 pickup in that area that night.