PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
- DETECTIVES ARREST MAN WHO HAS BEEN MOLESTING CHILDREN FOR OVER 26 YEARS
April 30, 2008
RIVERBANK, CA-Detectives
at Riverbank Police Services arrested a 56-year-old Riverbank man who
has been accused of molesting children from local church for over
26-years. Jerry Franklin Johnson, also known a Jeff, was arrested
Tuesday afternoon for several felony charges of sexual acts with a
child.
The investigation was started on April 15, 2008 when a 7-year-old victim reported to Oakdale Police Department that she had be molested by Johnson. While the investigation was ongoing on the initial report, several other older victims came forward and reported that Johnson also molested them when they were younger. Detectives said the incidents occurred in Oakdale and Riverbank. After talking to 8 victims, detectives believe that Johnson has been molesting children as far back as 1981. All of Johnson's victims were from the Church of Christ in Oakdale where Johnson was a church member. Some of the victims were also his relatives.
Detectives know there are more victims that have not reported incidents of molest by Johnson, but are asking them to come forward now. The victims that have recently come forward are between the ages of 20 and 30-years-old. “We want to help the victims find closure from anything that he might have done to them,” said Detective Walsh from Riverbank Police Services. “We can only do that if the victims come forward and let us help them.”
Johnson was arrested and booked of one felony count of sexual penetration with a foreign object, continuous sexual abuse of a child, oral copulation of victim under 16-years-old, and lewd or luscious acts with a child under 14-years-old. He is being held in the Stanislaus County Jail with a bail of $125,000.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Detective Walsh or Detective Copeland at Riverbank Police Services (209) 869-7162.
The investigation was started on April 15, 2008 when a 7-year-old victim reported to Oakdale Police Department that she had be molested by Johnson. While the investigation was ongoing on the initial report, several other older victims came forward and reported that Johnson also molested them when they were younger. Detectives said the incidents occurred in Oakdale and Riverbank. After talking to 8 victims, detectives believe that Johnson has been molesting children as far back as 1981. All of Johnson's victims were from the Church of Christ in Oakdale where Johnson was a church member. Some of the victims were also his relatives.
Detectives know there are more victims that have not reported incidents of molest by Johnson, but are asking them to come forward now. The victims that have recently come forward are between the ages of 20 and 30-years-old. “We want to help the victims find closure from anything that he might have done to them,” said Detective Walsh from Riverbank Police Services. “We can only do that if the victims come forward and let us help them.”
Johnson was arrested and booked of one felony count of sexual penetration with a foreign object, continuous sexual abuse of a child, oral copulation of victim under 16-years-old, and lewd or luscious acts with a child under 14-years-old. He is being held in the Stanislaus County Jail with a bail of $125,000.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Detective Walsh or Detective Copeland at Riverbank Police Services (209) 869-7162.
Callers can also leave an anonymous tip by
calling
Crime
Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 and may be eligible for a cash reward.
For information regarding this press release please contact Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer Royjindar Singh (209) 567-4401.
JERRY "JEFF" JOHNSON