Former southern Indiana firefighter faces felony child molestation charge

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- A southern Indiana man was charged with child molesting and voyeurism after a teenage girl said he "sexually touched her" at his house.

Donald Johnson was set to become a fire marshal in Utica before these charges. He pleaded not guilty in court this week 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 was notified Nov. 29 that the alleged victim told her mother that Johnson "sexually touched her" on Black Friday.

According to police, the girl, who's under 14 years old, handed investigators a notebook in which she wrote down everything that happened the night before. She told them she stayed at Johnson's house after going Black Friday shopping. The probable cause statement says Johnson wanted her to try on the clothes she bought and repeatedly asked her to "bend over."

While changing into a dress in his home office, the girl said she noticed a Ring camera with its recording light on.

The probable cause statement mentions the camera footage. It said later that Johnson, while attempting to delete the video, "accidentally screenshotted images instead."

"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."

She said later that Friday night, in the living room, Johnson began rubbing her feet on the couch and then continued "up her legs and to her private parts" on top of her clothes. Talking with investigators, the girl began crying as she recounted this part of the night, police said.

She said he then told her to turn over onto her stomach and "started rubbing up her legs to her private parts." The girl told investigators he then slapped her butt and "then raises her leg and continues to massage her while grazing her private parts." Shortly after that, he went to bed.

The girl told police she slept on the couch and woke up with her feet again on top of Johnson. She said she quickly pulled them away and moved across the room. When she said she moved because she was hot, Johnson allegedly told her "You could have took your clothes off."

The girl then texted her mother to come pick her up so she could get away. The Jeffersonville Police Department is investigating.

Johnson posted a $50,000 bond Thursday and was released from jail pending his next court date.

A retired Jeffersonville firefighter. Johnson was soon to be named a volunteer fire marshal in Utica. Chief Joseph Jarles said Johnson is on indefinite administrative leave during this investigation. Here's the department's 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 on behalf of the victim. Wilder expects this case to go to trial "within the next year or so."

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