MINERSVILLE - A 40-year-old man who allegedly raped two teenage girls and is wanted by borough police is in custody in Georgia thanks to U.S. Marshals.
Minersville police Chief Michael Combs said Tuesday that Joseph L. Johnson, 524 Pine St., who has been charged in incidents that occurred June 19, 2011, and several times between January 2012 and summer 2012, was captured by marshals Monday and is in a jail in Cobb County, Ga.
"We want to thank them for their assistance," Combs said. "They'll take him to see if he's willing to waive extradition. If he agrees to come back, it's just a simple matter of us going down to get him. If he wants to fight the extradition, then there's a bunch of legal proceedings that have to be done."
Combs said that they will know Johnson's decision today.
He also said that, thanks to the public calling in with tips after an article about Johnson appeared in The Republican-Herald, police were able to track him down and determine where he was living and working. When they contacted the U.S. Marshals Service, the marshals were able to easily go to his house and take him into custody.
From two cases, Johnson was charged with two counts each of rape, sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault and indecent exposure, and other felonies, according to Republican-Herald archives.
In June, police became aware of sexual abuse allegations made by a 16-year-old girl.
Following an interview with her and Schuylkill County Children & Youth, police found out that the girl had been with Johnson on June 19, 2011.
That day, the 16-year-old, a younger girl and Johnson were lying in bed and watching a movie, according to the affidavit.
Johnson gave the 16-year-old a white oblong pill, which she swallowed. She said that after taking the pill, she could hear and see but could not move her body.
Johnson then told her he was "going to teach her some things," removed her clothing and allegedly sexually assaulted her, police said.
Someone then knocked on the front door and Johnson threw clothes at the girl and told her to "shut up and get dressed." When Johnson answered the door, it was his wife, who came inside and the assault ended, police said.
After the incident, the girl's mother confronted Johnson and he told her he didn't remember because he was drunk.
In June 2013, police learned of sexual abuse allegations made by a 17-year-old girl.
In a police interview, the 17-year-old said that in January or February 2012, she was at a relative's house in Pottsville watching television and Johnson was also in the house.
Johnson approached her and said, "We are gonna have some lessons," shortly after which he molested her, police said.
She was able to get away from him and into the living room, where he said, "You're making this awkward" and "I'm just trying to teach you."
Police said that later that year, the girl was in a house with Johnson and he told her to put on comfortable clothes and then asked if he could give her a back massage. She agreed and Johnson began massaging her back and thighs, then removed his clothing.
Police said he removed her clothing, molested her and tried to rape her but she was able to get away from him, dress and leave the home. Outside, Johnson told her "that was awkward" and he "doesn't want it to happen again."