Johnson
VERNON — Former Columbus North High School auditorium director and drama coach John Johnson will stand trial in November in Jennings Circuit Court on a felony child solicitation charge.
Johnson, 52, who is accused of trying to arrange a sexual encounter with a fictitious 14-year-old boy in North Vernon, has pleaded not guilty to the Level 4 felony charge. If convicted, Johnson could be sentenced to up to 12 years in prison.
Jennings Circuit Judge Murielle S. Bright last month set aside three days for a jury trial beginning Nov. 13, noting in her order that there will be no continuances. A final attorney conference is set for Oct. 20.
A probable cause affidavit states that Johnson’s arrest stemmed from a Predator Catchers Indianapolis (PCI) sting operation that was conducted on the dating app Grindr and other messaging platforms over the course of at least several weeks.
PCI president Eric Schmutte set up a decoy profile on the app, posing as a fictitious 14-year-old boy, and had been communicating with an adult male who was using the alias name of Joe. Court documents state Schmutte had arranged to meet Joe at the North Vernon Walmart Supercenter, near the intersection of State Road 3 and North Second Street, to go somewhere for a sexual encounter.
After they met, video posted on the PCI Facebook page shows Schmutte following Johnson, showing him digital photos and continuously questioning him about his intentions until Johnson leaves the store, where deputies with the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department took Johnson into custody near the store’s main entrance.
One of the photos Schmutte received from Joe was of Johnson wearing the same clothes that he was wearing inside the Walmart.
Upon being notified of the allegations, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. terminated Johnson’s employment at North, where he was an hourly employee, BCSC officials said.
Johnson is represented in the case by Franklin attorney Russell Johnson (no relation), who did not respond to a message seeking comment.
