Suspect admits to sexual misconduct in two of four cases

Published 10:56 am Friday, July 26, 2013

The suspect in multiple criminal sexual conduct cases that popped up earlier this year has changed his plea to guilty in two cases.

Todd Richard Johnson, 43, of Austin, pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim younger than 13 in Mower County Court for an encounter in 1999. He also pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim younger than 13 for acts this year.

The cases began opening this year when a detective took reports on May 1 and May 5 from three girls who claim Todd Richard Johnson, 42, molested them when they were younger than 10. The victims in all cases say the sexual abuse happened several years ago in Austin at Johnson’s home, according to the court complaints. All of the victims in each case echoed similar accounts of what Johnson allegedly did to them.

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According to the court complaints, Johnson this year showed two girls pornographic films and engaged in sexual acts with them. According to the Mower County Attorney’s Office, Johnson’s alleged victims in that case were younger than 10, as well.

Johnson did not change his plea in two of the four cases, stemming from 1999 and 2001. In those cases, Johnson is also charged with first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct with victims younger than 13.