Suspect late for his hearing is arrested

Published 11:13 pm Friday, March 20, 2009

EVERETT — A Snohomish County judge wasn’t persuaded by a 75-year-old man’s excuses for being more than two hours late for his court hearing Friday.

Superior Court Judge Linda Krese ordered Reuben Melvin Johnson jailed on a $100,000 bench warrant. She signed the arrest warrant after Johnson didn’t show up for a morning hearing.

The Monroe man is accused of sexually abusing a relative for nearly a decade. The alleged victim was 5 when the abuse began, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Mark Roe wrote in court papers.

Johnson is charged with several sex crimes, including first-degree rape of a child. Detectives reported that he admitted his touching the girl “got out of hand,” according to court documents. Johnson also allegedly acknowledged abusing other relatives when they were children. The victims are now in their 40s and 50s, Roe wrote.

Johnson pleaded not guilty to the charges in February and was allowed to remain free.

He was brought back to court after allegations arose that he had contacted the alleged victim and other witnesses. At the March hearing, Krese ordered Johnson to stay at home except to attend medical appointments and meetings with his attorney. She also ordered him to be on electronic home monitoring.

Roe told Krese on Friday that Johnson didn’t show up for an appointment to be screened for home electronic monitoring.

Johnson’s attorney, Donald Wackerman, told Krese he thought Johnson may have been confused about court dates. Johnson is scheduled to be in court Wednesday to argue about the conditions of his release.

He also has rescheduled the appointment to be screened for home monitoring, Wackerman said.

Krese wasn’t persuaded. She signed the arrest warrant that Roe requested.

Johnson later showed up in Krese’s courtroom, where the judge ordered marshals to take him into custody.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.