An Aberdeen man, well known for his involvement with various civic projects, has been charged with two counts of rape of a child in the second degree and two counts of child molestation in the first degree.
Gregory Brian Johnson, 48, was in Grays Harbor Superior Court for a preliminary appearance on Monday. Johnson started what he calls the Gregorian Group. He has promoted and helped with several downtown Aberdeen betterment projects and his space, first at the SouthShore Mall and then in other downtown storefronts was billed as a safe place for young people to come after school.
The incidents for which he is charged allegedly occurred at various times between 2000 to 2014.
Aberdeen Police arrested Johnson on Oct. 31. He is being held in the Grays Harbor County Jail.
The arrest was made after an investigation was opened three weeks ago due to a complaint the Aberdeen Police Department received from a female victim.
The charges against Johnson read to him by Judge David Edwards, who also appointed an attorney to represent him.
According to court documents, a victim of Johnson’s told a Children’s Advocacy Center worker that she was raped by Johnson on numerous occasions between the time she was nine and 16 years old. During this time, Johnson allegedly had sexual intercourse with the victim and forced her to perform oral sex. Johnson also allegedly made the victim take showers with him.
On Oct. 20, a male victim came forward alleging Johnson had touched him inappropriately, as well. During a forensic interview, the second victim alleged that Johnson would put his hands down the male’s underwear and touch his “privates,” according to court documents. The victim also described Johnson forcing him to take off his underwear so Johnson could rub himself against the victim, adding that Johnson would inappropriately touch him at Johnson’s home and office.
On Oct. 31, Detectives met with the female victim at the Aberdeen Police Department where she was outfitted with a recording device. The victim then went to Johnson’s workplace to confront him while detectives monitored the conversation. Court documents state that Johnson admitted to raping the victim, saying that it was his fault. Johnson said he was in a “bad place” during the time the incidents took place.
He was subsequently arrested by Aberdeen Police.
The Gregorian Group, founded in 2009, bills itself as a volunteer center, a resource center and a non-profit showroom, according to the organization’s website, http://ift.tt/1GivTJa.
Johnson is a member of the advisory board, among other positions, according to the group’s Facebook page. During his court appearance, Edwards asked Johnson what his address was. Johnson could name the street, but not the street number, saying that he was living in a motor home he parked in his friend’s lawn and didn’t know their address.
Johnson’s next scheduled court appearance will be for an arraignment and is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 10.
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