12/16/2015 – OKC, OK — A former reserve deputy with the Minco Police Department learned his fate last week and has been sentenced to over 50-years in prison for the sexual assaults of two women working as Internet prostitutes.
JohnTV first reported on Brett William Johnson back in August of 2014, after he was arrested for sexually assaulting a 26-year-old woman who advertised herself as a prostitute on Backpage.com.
Johnson, 27, was reportedly working security at the Cottages at Hefner Road apartments in Oklahoma City when his victim, who we will identify as B.B.M., called 911 to report that she had been lured to the complex and sexually assaulted by Johnson.
Johnson was located, positively identified and taken to jail on complaints of forcible oral sodomy and sexual battery.
JohnTV reported on Johnson again in Sept. of last year after a second victim came forward identifying Johnson as her assailant too.
In that case, a woman we will identify as K.B., claimed she too advertised adult services online and was lured to the Oakleaf apartments on NW 19th street, confronted by Johnson and that he sexually assaulted her.
K.B.’s claims were supported by a photo found on Johnson’s phone of her, wearing a sundress, handcuffed and crying.
The woman told police that Johnson took the photo and told her he would kill her if she reported the assault.
Johnson’s cell phone records in both incidents show he made contact with them prior to their arrival at each apartment complex.
JohnTV reported on Johnson again after he was formally charged in Oklahoma County (link), on Sept. 2, 2014, with three counts of sexual battery, rape in the second degree, forcible oral sodomy, pointing a firearm at another and two counts of kidnaping.
Johnson’s first jury trial ended in a mistrial due to undisclosed issues with Johnson’s defense attorney.
Johnson’s second attempt at a jury trial ended before it ever began because prosecutors initially could not locate victim B.B.M. That trial was rescheduled after B.B.M. was found.
At Johnson’s third attempt for a jury trial, in Oct. of this year, he was found guilty of five of the charges and not guilty of two. The pointing a firearm at another charge was dismissed by prosecutors on Oct. 13.
During the trial it was revealed that Johnson had a secret cell phone her referred to as his ‘cheat phone.’ Johnson would reportedly use that phone to arrange hookups with prostitutes and anonymous women he’d meet online.
Brett johnson (photo from Facebook)
Evidence at trial showed that Johnson initially started by contacting online prostitutes and harassing them. Johnson then began making ‘dates’ with online prostitutes and would have them come to apartment complexes he was working security at. Johnson would watch them arrive but would not make contact with them. Eventually that was not enough for Johnson and he would confront the women and run them off. When that failed to satisfy Johnson he would confront and sexually assault his victims.
Johnson maintained that he did indeed contact online prostitutes but that he was only engaging in consensual prostitution and did not assault or rape anyone.
Prosecutors pointed out that at the time of his arrest he only had $26 on him and therefore could not have intended on purchasing sex acts.
Johnson was revealed to be engaged to be married at the time of the assaults.
Last Thursday Johnson was formally sentenced by Oklahoma County Judge Ray Elliot to serve 53.5 years in prison (37-years on B.B.M.’s allegations and 16.5-years on K.B.’s allegations). Johnson was ordered to pay $250 VCA and other court costs. Johnson was also ordered to be supervised for up to a year upon his release from prison.
Brett Johnson being led out of court after his sentencing. (photo by JohnTV)
Johnson was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Suzanne Lavenue.
At the time of Johnson’s sentencing, his attorney filed a motion for retrial based on some behind the scenes shenanigans that had allegedly occurred with an extortion attempt by an associate of B.B.M. directed at Johnson’s defense lawyer. Judge Elliot denied the motion for retrial because Johnson’s defense attorney had allegedly not laid the groundwork in trial to support a retrial.
Johnson is reportedly appealing his verdict and prison sentence.
Verdict Breakdown:
- Sexual Battery – Guilty (1.5 years)
- Rape in the 2nd Degree – Not Guilty
- Sexual Battery – Not Guilty
- Sexual Battery – Guilty (2 years)
- Forcible Oral Sodomy – Guilty (20 years)
- Pointing a Firearm at Another – Dismissed
- Kidnapping – Guilty (15 years)
- Kidnapping – Guilty (15 years)
