The victim, a family member of Donald Johnson, is under 14 years old.
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) — A southern Indiana man faces charges of child molesting and voyeurism after a teenage girl reported that he “sexually touched her” at his residence.
Donald Johnson was prepared to step into the role of fire marshal in Utica prior to these allegations. This week in court, he pleaded not guilty to child molesting, voyeurism, and obstruction of justice.
“We’ve entered a plea not guilty. We’ve asked for a jury trial,” said Larry Wilder, Johnson’s attorney. “Our job is just to get to all of the truth.”
The Jeffersonville Police Department’s Crimes Against Children unit received a report on Nov. 29. The victim had informed her mother that Johnson “sexually touched her” on Black Friday.
According to police records, the girl, who is younger than 14, provided investigators with a notebook where she had documented the events of the previous night. She explained that she stayed at Johnson’s house following a Black Friday shopping trip. The probable cause statement indicates that Johnson insisted she try on her new clothes and repeatedly instructed her to “bend over.”
The girl reported seeing a Ring camera with an active recording light while she changed into a dress in his home office.
The probable cause statement notes the presence of camera footage. It details that Johnson “accidentally screenshotted images instead” while he was attempting to delete the video.
“A probable cause affidavit is written by the government,” Wilder said. “The basis of our plea of not guilty is that that version of the truth that the government has presented … we do not believe it’s all of the story.”
The girl stated that later Friday night, while in the living room, Johnson started rubbing her feet on the couch before moving “up her legs and to her private parts” over her clothing. Police noted that the girl began to cry while recounting this portion of the evening to investigators.
She alleged that he then told her to lie on her stomach and “started rubbing up her legs to her private parts.” The girl informed investigators that he slapped her backside and “then raises her leg and continues to massage her while grazing her private parts.” He went to bed shortly after.
The girl told police that she slept on the couch and woke to find her feet resting on Johnson again. She stated she immediately pulled away and moved across the room. When she explained she moved because she felt hot, Johnson allegedly replied, “You could have took your clothes off.”
The girl then sent a text to her mother asking to be picked up so she could leave. The Jeffersonville Police Department continues to investigate the matter.
Johnson was released from jail on Thursday after posting a $50,000 bond, pending his upcoming court appearance.
A retired Jeffersonville firefighter, Johnson was set to be appointed as a volunteer fire marshal in Utica. Chief Joseph Jarles confirmed that Johnson is on indefinite administrative leave throughout the investigation. The department issued the following official statement:
“The Utica Township Fire Protection District and Utica Fire & Rescue are aware of the criminal charges brought against Donald E. Johnson by the State of Indiana. When the Fire Chief was first made aware of the accusations that led to the pending criminal matter, Mr. Johnson was placed on indefinite administrative leave until those charges may be resolved. Otherwise, neither the Fire Protection District nor the Fire Department is involved in any way in Mr. Johnson’s criminal case, and neither has any other information that may be shared.”
An Emergency Protective Order was filed against Johnson to protect the victim. Wilder anticipates the case will proceed to trial “within the next year or so.”
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