Gainesville man charged with rape

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Michael Anthony Johnson, 56, was arrested early this morning and charged with sexual assault after he allegedly raped an acquaintance.

The victim told an Alachua County sheriff’s deputy that she was spending time with Johnson, whom she described as an “acquaintance,” on May 19 when he began making unwanted sexual advances. She said she told him she didn’t want to have sex, but he forced her onto the bed, took off her pants while holding her and then raped her. She said he also had her cell phone and EBT card.

An officer made contact with Johnson at his home, and Johnson reportedly spontaneously stated that the woman had lied about him; when asked who he was talking about, he gave the victim’s name. He reportedly denied having sex with her, but said he masturbated while “fooling around with her.” When the deputy asked what he meant by “fooling around,” he reportedly said, “Feeling and kissing each other’s genitals.”

The deputy asked if he had the victim’s cell phone, and Johnson allegedly said one of the three cell phones in his possession was hers. He denied having her EBT card, but a search of his wallet during his arrest allegedly found the victim’s EBT card.

Johnson’s full criminal record is not available, but he has served two sentences in state prison for drug trafficking and assault on a police officer, both in Broward County, and was most recently released in 2011. Judge Meshon Rawls ordered him remanded in custody pending a hearing on a prosecutor’s motion to hold him without bail pending trial.

Articles about arrests are based on law enforcement reports. The allegations listed are from the arrest report and/or court records and are allegations only. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.