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Police: Port Tampa Rape Suspect May Have Other Victims

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Published: August 20, 2008

Updated: 08/20/2008 12:24 pm

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• Interview With Suspect's Mother

  Charles Nicholas Johnson

TAMPA - By VALERIE KALFRIN

The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA A 25-year-old man charged in the rape of a 9-year-old boy might have abused other children in the Port Tampa area, police said.

Charles Nicholas Johnson, of 6716 S. Juanita St., was booked into the Orient Road Jail this morning. Tampa police said he is charged with two counts of capital sexual battery.

Sex crimes Sgt. Paul Mumford said detectives think Johnson might have abused other children because he often babysat in the Port Tampa area.

"That disturbs us greatly because we believe there are other victims," Mumford said today.

Johnson met the 9-year-old through babysitting him at the beginning of the summer, Mumford said. Police have identified another child Johnson is thought to have victimized but have not been able to locate that child.

Mumford asked any parents who have had Johnson babysit their children to talk to their children about his actions and to call police at (813) 231-6130.

Detectives began investigating Johnson after residents at the Camden Apartments, 6301 S. West Shore Blvd., called police on Aug. 6 about Johnson touching the 9-year-old inappropriately at the pool.

"He had the child sitting on his lap, and the touching was inappropriate in the opinions of witnesses," Mumford said.

Witnesses first confronted Johnson and the boy, neither of whom live at the apartment complex. Johnson and the child then ducked into a public restroom, and the witnesses called police, Mumford said.

That day, Johnson and the boy denied any inappropriate behavior, but police followed up, Mumford said.

On Tuesday, Johnson and the boy told investigators they had had sex at least twice in a wooded area at South Lois Avenue and West Tyson Street, Mumford said.

The child didn't think anything was wrong, Mumford said.

"Mr. Johnson befriended him, and in his mind, he's a friend of his, and that's what friends are supposed to do," Mumford said.

Johnson has no prior criminal record in this state, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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