Sunday, August 25, 2019

Joplin man pleads guilty to kidnapping women at local stores, forcing them to remove their clothes

A November 4 sentencing has been scheduled for Lawrence Johnson, 39, who pleaded guilty Friday in Jasper County Circuit Court to kidnapping and attempted sodomy under a plea agreement with the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office.

Whether that plea agreement will be accepted by Judge David Mouton depends on the outcome of a pre-sentence investigation he ordered. Sentencing is scheduled for November 4.

Johnson was originally charged with two counts of kidnapping, sodomy and two counts of assault.

Johnson attacked two women at Joplin stores in January 2017

The first attack occurred when the woman was the only one working at the store. Johnson lured her into the bathroom claiming there was a problem, forced her to remove her clothes.

The probable cause affidavit indicates Johnson used the same method of operation for the second attack but the woman was able to thwart him before any sesual act took place. Others were working in the store at the time.

Joplin Police arrested Johnson shortly after the second attack as he was entering a third business, the Kum N Go at 4th and St. Louis.

4 comments:

maite said...

Lock him away!

Anonymous said...

Yet the repubes keep on whinging that we need a wall!

Brian said...

Prisons have walls....

Anonymous said...

What is a repube?
Sounds like something a child or a simple minded adult who has trouble expressing their own thoughts would say.