A routine afternoon at a Troy Michaels store turned into a criminal case when, according to police, a shopper reported that a man had been trailing her through the aisles and peppering her with odd questions. A second woman later told officers the same man claimed she had a spider on her, then rubbed her buttocks.
Officers identified the suspect as Ian Matthew Johnson, 21, of Auburn Hills. According to charging documents, Johnson was arrested at the Michaels on John R Road last Thursday and now faces one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was arraigned the next day.
Troy police say they were called to the store at about 2:30 p.m. and took Johnson into custody as he was walking toward the front of the business, as reported by ClickOnDetroit. The second woman described the "spider" interaction to officers, and prosecutors filed a charge of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Johnson was arraigned last Friday and given a $5,000 bond.
What Fourth-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Means
Michigan's fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct statute, MCL 750.520e, sets out the elements of CSC-IV. A benchbook from Michigan Courts explains that the offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail and notes that it can trigger sex offender registration in some cases. A conviction at even the lowest degree can carry long-term consequences for employment, housing, and registration obligations.
Previous Complaints And Probation
Authorities say Johnson was on probation at the time of his arrest last Thursday, and earlier local reporting shows he has faced similar accusations in recent months. Prior coverage by ClickOnDetroit details a July 2025 allegation that Johnson sprayed lotion on a woman's back at a Troy gas station and a separate report that he groped a woman on the Clinton River Trail in Auburn Hills. Those earlier incidents were also handled as fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct charges and previously resulted in a $7,500 bond, according to that reporting.
The current case remains pending in the district court. Johnson is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
