Defendant: Charles Johnson DOB 01/10/79

Jan. 17, 2019 --  Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced that Charles Johnson of Mount Vernon pleaded guilty to Attempted Sex Abuse in the First Degree, a felony, for luring a teenaged woman into his home by using a dog-walking app on the pretense of looking for a dog sitter. Westchester County Court Judge Barry Warhit accepted the plea. Johnson is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 22, 2019.

Background
On May 3, 2018, Johnson, using the name “Chuck J.,” communicated with the victim via Rover.com, a popular pet-care hiring app. Through a series of messages, he lured the teenaged victim to his Mount Vernon home. Once there, he trapped her behind a locked door, offered her money for sex acts, and exposed himself. When she refused, he forcibly groped her and persisted in his demands for oral sex. The victim escaped and immediately called police. There was no dog in the house.

Johnson was arrested May 8, 2018 by Mount Vernon Police. He was remanded to jail due to three prior felony convictions.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kerrie Williams, Deputy Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Sex Crimes Bureau.

police photo of Charles Johnson

Charles Johnson

 In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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