Richard Johnson, the chief felony prosecutor in DeSoto Parish, was elected district attorney Saturday night, defeating a colleague.

Johnson defeated Robert Plummer, the first assistant district attorney. Johnson got 54 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Plummer, according to complete but unofficial returns.

DeSoto and Sabine parishes used to be one judicial district but it was broken up into separate parishes this year. Incumbent District Attorney Don Burkett lives in Sabine Parish and was re-elected there without opposition.

DeSoto Parish also elected its own judge. Robert Burgess received 59 percent of the vote to 41 percent for challenger Brenda Ford, according to complete but unofficial returns..

Julie Jones was elected the new district attorney in Red River Parish. She received 56 percent of the vote to 44 percent for Robert Bethard, according to complete but unofficial returns.

Jones succeeds District Attorney Bill Jones, who did not seek re-election. They are not related.

Attorneys Darrell Avery and Jonathan Stewart will meet in a runoff to decide who will be the new district attorney for the judicial district that includes Bienville, Claiborne and Jackson parishes.

Avery got 31 percent of the vote but not the majority to win the race outright. Stewart was a close second with 30 percent, according to complete but unofficial returns.

David Newell was third with 21 percent, followed by Chris Bowman with 18 percent.

The winner of the election will succeed Walter May, who did not seek re-election.