[10/02/02]Juanita “Nita” Johnston, believed to be the victim of a 2001 beating until she said she wasn’t, has filed a charge saying her teenage daughter was assaulted Friday by the daughter’s stepmother.

Johnston’s affidavit in Warren County Justice Court accuses Cathy Johnston, the wife of Nita Johnston’s former husband, Joe Johnston, of injuring Abby Johnston by “grabbing, pulling, pushing, scratching and grabbing her by her legs trying to make her fall.” The assault occurred Friday, according to the statement.

Warren County Sheriff’s Department records showed a complaint was filed on the incident. A justice court hearing date of Oct. 16 was set and Cathy Johnston remained free on $500 bond, records show.

The sworn statement was apparently served Monday by interim Central District Constable Rudolph Walker.

In December, a sworn statement filed by Hinds County investigators said Juanita Johnston had accused Judge Gerald Hosemann of assaulting her before she was found injured on his Hinds County ranch property. In March, she recanted the accusation.

Despite the change, Hosemann was indicted over Johnston’s protest. That indictment was dropped after he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor disturbing the peace charge.