Teen found guilty in mall abduction

5/8/2004

A Toledo teenager who terrorized a woman in a sexual assault and robbery that began when he forced her into her car as she left a Toledo shopping mall was convicted yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Lamond Johnson, who was 17 years old when he abducted the 41-year-old woman on Oct. 13 at Westfield Shoppingtown Franklin Park, entered into a plea bargain with prosecutors.

In exchange for pleas of no contest to rape, aggravated robbery, and kidnapping, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a rape charge when he is sentenced June 8.

Judge Frederick McDonald found Johnson, of 39 City Park Ave. Lot 39, guilty. He faces a potential 30-year prison sentence for the crimes.

Assistant Prosecutor Timothy Westrick said the negotiated plea was struck with the defendant because of possible evidentiary concerns had the case gone to trial, but was done with the consent of investigating police officers and the victim.

Mr. Westrick said the plea also will spare the victim, who was employed at the mall, from the ordeal of testifying. However, "she was willing to do so," he added.

When the woman walked from the mall into the parking lot shortly after 9 p.m., Johnson asked if she had a cell phone.

Mr. Westrick said the defendant then told her he had knife and later threatened her with the weapon after he forced her into the car. He drove the victim's car from the

mall to a parking lot behind a gas station at Sylvania Avenue and Talmadge Road and raped her.

Johnson drove to the vicinity of Spencer Street and South Avenue and used a pay phone to call his mother.

Mr. Westrick said Johnson told his mother that he was in trouble for doing something very bad, and ended the conversation by handing the phone to the victim so she could say hello.

The victim was driven to a secluded area near City Park and the Trail, where she was sexually assaulted again. About 11:30 p.m., Johnson took the victim's wallet, credit cards, and paycheck and fled from the car.

The woman drove to police headquarters. Johnson was arrested two days later. Johnson, who is now 18, was certified in Lucas County Juvenile Court to stand trial as an adult.