Donald Johnson, a 49-year-old man from Dutchtown, admitted to the attempted rape of a young woman related to him. The incident took place on October 17 of last year.
According to an account by the Circuit Attorney's Office, the 18-year-old relative, who had been staying with Johnson for several months, was approached by him with a request for sexual favors. Upon her refusal, the situation tragically escalated: Johnson pinned her onto a couch, struck her, and endeavoring to disrobe her. The relative's resilience, however, led to her escape – and to Johnson's prosecution. Johnson has a history of similar offenses, having been previously jailed for child molestation and criminal sexual assault.
The victim bravely fought off her attacker and sought help from a friend. She quickly contacted the police, leading to Johnson's arrest and guilty plea. Gabe Gore, Circuit Attorney, stated, "Sex crimes perpetrated against young victims by their own family members are all too common, and often go unreported." He praised the victim for her courage in reporting the crime, as per the Circuit Attorney's Office release.
As a result of his guilty plea, Johnson will serve a 10-year prison sentence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Circuit Attorney Sherry Wolk, who secured the conviction.
