Lewd suspect waives hearing

SANDPOINT — A Coeur d’Alene man accused of sexually abusing two minors in Bonner County in 2009 waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

Damon Eugene Johnson’s waiver clears the way for his arraignment in 1st District Court on Jan. 17, 2017. He is being held at the Bonner County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bail.

Johnson is charged with sexual abuse of a minor and two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor. The charges did not emerge until last July, court records show.

Johnson, 39, is accused of climbing on top of a naked 9-year-old girl while he himself was naked, according to the criminal complaint. He is further accused of touching the genitals of the same 9-year-old girl and another 7-year-old girl, the complaint said.

The alleged abuse occurred in a Washington Street home and a residence on Winterton Road in the Lower Pack River Valley. It’s not clear in court documents what prompted the sexual abuse disclosures.

The alleged victim who was 7 at the time of the alleged abuse told Sandpoint Police investigators said Johnson’s eyes glazed over and he took on an entirely different demeanor when he put his hand down her pants, a probable cause affidavit said. The 9-year-old told investigators that Johnson made her disrobe before jumping onto her while naked, the affidavit said.

Johnson was questioned at the Spokane County Jail on unspecified charges, court records indicate. When asked if the girls’ allegations were true, Johnson allegedly responded, “I have no idea.” Johnson also stated that it was possible that he touched the 7-year-old, according to court documents.

Johnson is barred by court order from having any contact with the alleged victims while the case is pending.

Johnson w as charged with second-degree kidnapping and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Bonner County in 2012. Johnson is accused of ambushing a woman inside her vehicle while armed with a pistol.

Johnson allegedly entered the vehicle as a male exited it to confront Johnson, who drove off with the woman. The sport utility vehicle ended up crashing during a struggle over the weapon. A deputy encountered the two and intervened, according to court documents.

The kidnapping charge was dismissed in exchange for pleas to aggravated assault and unlawful entering. Johnson received a five-year prison term, but jurisdiction was retained and qualified Johnson for early release onto probation.