Update: Donald Johnson Child Pornography Charges

Johnson is a deacon at a local church, and Johnson’s wife used their home as a daycare

Tools

By Matthew F. Smith

ANCHORAGE - For three months last year, an undercover state trooper was sent eight videos of men sexually assaulting children—some of them as young as 2 years old—from a South Anchorage home.

That home is the residence of 61-year-old Donald T. Johnson and his wife. And investigators said that, when they came to arrest Johnson at his home on Wednesday, he wasn’t surprised.

“Mr. Johnson was very cooperative with us,” Detective Mark Thomas with the Anchorage Police Department’s Cyber Crimes Unit said on Thursday. “He indicated that he knew why we were there almost immediately.”

Charging documents report that Johnson admitted to downloading child pornography, and that he generally kept the digital media on an external hard drive, in a folder labeled “Y” for “young.”

Investigators secured the scene and determined that two videos were found on Johnson’s hard drive. “One of them had one young girl in it, who was between seven and nine years old, and an adult male,” Thomas said. “The second one had up to, about six or seven young girls, all between the ages seven and 11 again, and an adult male.” Charging documents show the videos had graphic content show sexual abuse of minors by the men. “At that point a decision was made, we needed to take Mr. Johnson into custody.”

Yesterday, Johnson was arraigned for two counts of possessing and seven counts of distributing child pornography. If convicted, he could face up to 99 years in prison for each count.

CBS 11 News has also learned that Johnson's house was used a daycare center. According to city records, the center has been running since 2008, and is listed as able to care for up to eight children, from newborns to 12-year-olds.

Johnson's wife runs the daycare. She declined to be interviewed today, but said her husband was not involved in the day-to-day operations of the daycare, and that he did not have any contact with the children she cared for. She also said she contacted the parents about the charges her husband faces.

CBS 11 News has also confirmed that Johnson is a deacon at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Fairview. The pastor also declined to be interviewed today, but he said Johnson did not work with children at the church.

Johnson remains behind bars at the Anchorage Jail. His bail was set at $10,000. If he does post bail, he's required to be under 24-hour supervision with a court-approved third party custodian.

Detective Thomas said investigators are matching images and video recovered from Johnson's house with national databases for abused and missing children. Though police seized cameras from Johnson's house, Thomas said he doesn't suspect Johnson was filming or abusing any local victims.

If you do know of any contact that Johnson may have had with any children, Anchorage police want to hear from you. You can call APD at 786-8900 or, if you want to remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers at 561-STOP (7867).
 

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Karen said on Saturday, Jan 12 at 2:32 PM

I don't believe in Alaska courts to do there job they did not do right by my grandson who was murdered.The first one was let out and the second one got a few years and we will wait and see on the third one so far no justice was done for the family and friends

111168261
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

diger said on Saturday, Jan 12 at 4:06 PM

My stepdaughter was molested by a man the court determined wasn't fit to stand trial, he was sure fit enough to molest her. the alaska court system is a waste of time and energy for the victims

111172955
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

TedtheBear said on Saturday, Jan 12 at 4:17 PM

I think that daycare home will see a dip in business.

111173346
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

welfarehater said on Saturday, Jan 12 at 8:32 PM

diapersniper

111184975
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

cooljulie said on Saturday, Jan 12 at 8:59 PM

Wish I had the time to go thru old comments on Keyes, but where's the person who made such a big deal about Keyes being "an Atheist and that's what they are like?" or some comment to that effect? Would love to hear their take on Johnson.

111186432
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

miles said on Saturday, Jan 12 at 9:08 PM

10,000 bail ? what a total joke!! alaska courts what a waste, yea let him out, wounder what he will be doing again errrr

111187012
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

the revolving door of criminal justice said on Sunday, Jan 13 at 4:32 PM

they pick and choose to prosecute...when you realize they don't care - it will be allright...words from an active attorney of family law in alaska...

111243195
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Jay said on Monday, Jan 14 at 11:10 AM

The members of that church are always in the news. And never for anything good.

111298002
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Birder said on Monday, Jan 14 at 5:58 PM

How was the video sent to a state trooper?! Anyone else find that peculiar?

111327252
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

devil in the church said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 8:05 PM

this is gonna hurt...they are the most VILE of people - hide behind their religion...oh I raped for God...or the politicians with their rhetoric...

111414581
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Anony said on Tuesday, Mar 5 at 3:12 PM

Donald tried to befriend me when I had young children at home some years ago, glad I didn't let him come

115259065
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.