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Former teacher's trial on molestation charges begins

Tribune-Star - 3/1/2017

March 01--Two versions of what happened, or did not happen, between a middle school teacher and a 13-year-old eighth-grader emerged in Vigo County Court on Tuesday.

In the defense version, the events revolved around a teen's crush and fantasy.

The prosecution, however, contends there was criminal sexual contact between the teacher and student.

The trial for Jeremy Johnson, a former science teacher at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, began Tuesday in Superior Court 3, where it will resume today.

Johnson, 38, has been charged with child molestation as both Level 1 and Level 4 felonies, and child solicitation as a Level 5 felony, in connection with an alleged Dec. 19, 2014, incident at the school.

Authorities have said the girl, then 13, told investigators she and Johnson kissed and touched each other's genitals during an encounter after a Christmas play at the school.

Defense attorney Jim Organ, however, told the six-man, six-woman jury the girl had a crush on Johnson and made up the story to impress her friends.

Johnson denies the encounter occurred, Organ said, and was the person who notified school officials of rumors spreading among students about an encounter between him and the girl.

Johnson was arrested June 3, 2015, after a city police investigation of allegations he had inappropriate contact with the middle school student. He was fired as a teacher.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Rob Roberts told the jury the encounter began in the school kitchen with a kiss, and then moved to a remote classroom above the school auditorium.

The encounter was brief, Roberts said, and no allegations were made public for about six months.

No DNA or other physical evidence will be presented in the case, Roberts said, and video surveillance does not exist to show where Johnson or the girl were inside the building on that evening.

But the jury heard from two witnesses who said they did not see Johnson or the girl for several minutes after the production ended and while cleanup was going on.

Belinda Stephens testified that she left the girl, who was her relative, at the school for a short time while she ran an errand after the play.

Stephens said when she returned to pick up the girl, the teen did not respond to several text message or phone calls to come outside for her ride. Stephens said she finally went inside and looked around the school for the girl. When she found her , the girl was silent and went straight to the car to leave, Stephens said.

Stephens said the girl did not tell her about a sexual encounter for a few months, even though the teen lived with her for a while.

Another witness -- who attended school with the teen and was in the school play -- said he and his parents noticed that Johnson was "missing" for a while after the play.

Testimony will resume with Organ's cross-examination of Stephens.

The trial is expected to wrap up Thursday.

Johnson could face decades in prison if convicted on the most serious charges. A Level 1 felony carries a potential prison sentence of 20 to 50 years, while a Level 4 felony has a sentencing range of two to 12 years; a Level 5 felony has a sentencing range of one to six years.

Lisa Trigg can be reached at 812-231-4254 or at lisa.trigg@tribstar.com. Follow her on Twitter at TribStarLisa.

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