Arraignment for Joplin gymnastics coach charged with sexually assaulting underage boy set for Friday

An arraignment is scheduled 8:30 a.m. Friday in Jasper County Circuit Court for a Joplin gymnastics coach charged with two counts of statutory sodomy and one count of furnishing pornographic material to a minor.

Judge Jerry Holcomb will conduct the hearing for Kip Johnson, 45, who is being held in the Jasper County Jail without bond after being arrested Tuesday.

The crimes took place January 27 at Johnson's home, according to a probable cause statement filed in Jasper County Circuit Court. 

The charges involve sexual assaults committed against an underage boy January 27, but the statements indicate Johnson began sexually assaulting the boy when he was 14 years old and continued doing so over a two-year period, raising the possibility that more charges could be filed.

Johnson has also been charged with two counts of statutory sodomy involving the same underage boy after allegedly sexually assaulting him in a first floor examination room at Johnson's workplace, Freeman Rehabilitation and Sports Center, 2206. E. 32nd Street the same day.

No court date has been scheduled for Johnson on the Newton County charges.