Ex-officer sentenced for sex affair
By Phil Ray, pray@altoonamirror.comArticle Photos
HOLLIDAYSBURG - Former Altoona police officer Herrick "Rick" Johnson stood head-to-head with his wife and began to cry Friday night after he was sentenced to state prison for having a sexual affair with a troubled Indiana teenager he was supposed to be mentoring.
Blair County President Judge Jolene G. Kopriva sentenced Johnson to 18 to 48 months in prison.
She refused a request by his attorney, R. Thomas Forr, to give him two weeks to wrap up his affairs before beginning the sentence.
That led to the emotional goodbye between Johnson and his wife, Judy, who earlier told the judge that she had forgiven him for his indiscretions with the 16-year-old Dyer, Ind., girl, who had a history of mental illness and family problems.
"He's weak like all of us. He's a good man. He failed. We all fail," she said of the ex-officer who spent 22 years with the Altoona Police Department.
''I don't think I have ever been in a courtroom with so much pain,'' Kopriva said after hearing the girl's father plead with the judge to give him and his wife time to counsel their daughter, who remains obsessed with Johnson, 50.
He told the judge that his daughter is planning to move to Altoona and have children with Johnson when she turns 18.
The father said Johnson, who was under a no-contact order from Indiana courts to stay away from the girl, ''thumbed his nose at us and the law'' by repeatedly contacting the teen through text messages.
He said he fears his daughter will be affected for the rest of her life.
Deputy Attorney General J. Kenneth Brown described the former officer as arrogant, having relations with the girl in his Altoona home, as well as in two hotels on the road between Indiana and Altoona.
''He's arrogant enough he's not going to stop. The arrogance continues to this very day,'' Brown said as he asked for a prison sentence to keep Johnson away from the teen.
Brown said Johnson had yet to acknowledge the warrant for his arrest issued in Indiana in early January.
Friday was initially to be a bail revocation hearing because of Johnson's repeated violations of an Indiana protection order, but all parties at the hearing decided that he should be sentenced on charges of child endangerment and corruption of a minor, to which he entered guilty pleas in December.
His sentencing was to be next week.
''I am so sorry,'' said Johnson as he turned to the girl's father. He said he was not arrogant, but a fallen man.
Johnson's pastor, Tyler W. Pepper, and psychologist James Brady have been counseling Johnson, and they both said he was remorseful.
''I beg mercy,'' said Johnson, adding that if he was placed on probation, he would no longer contact the girl. ''It will stay stopped. ... Please, please."
Johnson met the teen through the Internet. She was a member of a group of teens considering law enforcement as a career.
She eventually confided in him about her problems, and Johnson decided to step into her life to help her, the judge said. Kopriva said what started out as helping her became predatory behavior.
She told Johnson that he allowed what became his obsession to ''crush your world.''
''You're sorry it happened. That's not the point. Where's the thinking before you commit the crime?'' Kopriva asked.
She called the jail sentence ''a tough wakeup call."
Johnson acknowledged that he hurt the Indiana family and his own family. He lost his job and he and his wife have lost friends.
''Thank God we have each other,'' he said.
Mirror Staff Writer Phil Ray is at 946-7468.
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unbelievable
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03-13-09 9:21 AM
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ok Britney since you are a 16 yr old that knows everything--please tell us the story. we would love to hear all about the affair the little girl had with a 50 year old, she sounds like a very nice little girl-**** ,the best name I can call her.
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Allset
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03-10-09 2:08 PM
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Britney, may i remind you that you don't know anything first-hand. You only know what you have been told by a person who will tell people what she wants them to hear to get the outcome she wants. I feel sorry for her. She needs help and it's unfortunate that you defend her actions instead of being a real friend and help her to see the right direction.
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dodge99
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03-10-09 12:47 PM
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First of all Britney, We do know the whole story, we are friends with Judy his wife, so we know whats going on..and how pathetic of your friend Deann to call and apologize to Judy in December for all of this and then turn around and send emails to Rick. Judy was nice enough to take your friend in because she thought she was helping a troubled child..what a slap in the face..Judy will recover and hopefully she will see that she doesn't need Rick and then the two that created this mess can be together, because they both deserve each other..shame on them both.
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dodge99
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03-10-09 12:44 PM
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First of all Britney, We do know the whole story, we are friends with Judy his wife, so we know whats going on..and how pathetic of your friend Deann to call and apologize to Judy in December for all of this and then turn around and send emails to Rick. Judy was nice enough to take your friend in because she thought she was helping a troubled child..what a slap in the face..Judy will recover and hopefully she will see that she doesn't need Rick and then the two that created this mess can be together, because they both deserve each other..shame on them both.
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Britney
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03-10-09 10:58 AM
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unbelievable you obviously have no idea and insite on anyhthing so you really need to shut your **** mouth and listen to what the truth about everything is. Just because something is in the paper does not make it true. As for your comment about just moving to altoona and having kids with him never came out of my friend's mouth that is merely **** her father wanted to go into court and say. So learn the truth and don't just assume. I know the WHOLE story unlike most of you on here!
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JusticeForAll
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03-09-09 9:41 AM
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Policegirl first off,what a hypocratic name that is, do not even pretend to have any concern for Rick's family...what Rick did was wrong and what a self-centered child did was also wrong. Where was any regard to Rick's wife and their marriage vows? Please do not pursue a career in law enforcement because I do not want someone like you protecting me. Also, I think I speak for many when I say, do not move to Altoona, haven't you caused enough pain to Rick's wife why further it? I must also agree with JohnParker's comment about the media coverage as this type of thing happens more than most people realize. It is also sad to know that some people "overlook" such behavior. I know of one such man that should be sitting in prison, but because no one cared to press charges against that 49 year old man he got away unscathed with his "relationship" with a 17 year old girl. It's a sad world we live in that people are able to do all the wrong things and are walking among
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unbelievable
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03-06-09 12:21 PM
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first of all POLICE*****(girl) you have no clue what love is.First of all you started this whole thing and I wonder why Judy is suffering could you be the reason.another thing your such a big girl why did you not testify and try to help your lover get off? you are a pitiful mess, and you say you were rapped, well what do you think Rick did to you but then again you can't rape the willing, look at your life girl, 16 a non virgin to a 50 year old man--it tells me you better be thinking about alot more then comming to Altoona and having kids with Rick-ask him where his 2 boys are to his 1st wife, maybe you will change your mind, you both deserve each other, too bad his wife had to be involved-maybe you should think twice before comming to Altoona,by then you will be 18 and an adult (LOSER)
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dodge99
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03-06-09 11:54 AM
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policegirl, you are not the victim, Judy is the victim..you and Rick should have thought about this before it happened. Rick got what he deserved and now Judy is the one suffering because of this mess.
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policegirl
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03-05-09 9:32 AM
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for all that think hes hurt me you are wrong on so many levels...this was all wrong and that goes for this senencing...i have no life sentence...but now, he does and so does his family
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OooohNoooo
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03-02-09 7:19 AM
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or not so surgically... maybe a butter knife..
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OooohNoooo
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03-02-09 7:19 AM
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Let this low life walk... But surgically remove his "equipment"!
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MamaMoo816
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03-01-09 6:49 PM
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Just one question to all of you who think this sentence is so "harsh". How long of a sentence does a victim of child sexual abuse have? Answer: It is a life sentence. A forever sentence. Sure there is counseling available but it is something that will be a part of them until the day they die. No sentence is too harsh for someone who abuses the trust of a child. I don't care who they are or what their job is. I also can't stand the fact that if the children don't testify these creeps can plea out. Does everyone here realize that one in seven males and two in seven females will be the victim of child sexual abuse before the age of 18. Put the creeps away and let them rot.
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JohnParker
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03-01-09 6:42 PM
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If the media had not covered this case, he would have walked. It is good that the media covered the case, or the Blair County "justice" system would have swept this one under the rug as they have so many times before. The only way these "public servants" can be held accountable, is when the people bring their crimes to light.
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epoch1
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03-01-09 1:46 PM
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negativened: Relative to Kopriva's other sentences, this is a harsh sentence. Far worse crimes have been committed with far less jail time being served.
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negativened
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03-01-09 1:31 PM
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All I can say is thank God I was not the judge cause he would rot in jail. He felt NOTHING or he would have answered his warrant in Indiana. This is pure scum and he deserved much much more. I hate Kopriva and I mean I can't stand the sight of her but her sentenance in my opinion was not long enough for this coward cop. Maybe I'll send him a handkerchief to mop up his tears. What a punk!
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epoch1
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03-01-09 10:45 AM
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Kopriva is an absolute joke. 18-48 months is absolutely wrong; he NEVER should have been sentenced for that long. People always talk of police officers being held to a higher standard, well this one was. What Johnson did was wrong, BUT the punishment should not be higher just because he was a police officer. Johnson was screwed by Kopriva and the media. And no I do not know or like Johnson. I simply believe that Kopriva should be a little more consistent and JUSTICE SHOULD BE BLIND.
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voiceofreason
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03-01-09 8:33 AM
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I really enjoy the baseless comments aroud olice getting favorable treatment. In case you conspiracy freaks have not noticed he has not been "taken care of" from the beginning. He was arrested in a timely manner. He was arraigned and placed on bail. He didn't go to jail immediately because the victim was 12 hours away among other reasons. Now he was sentenced to a higher sentence than other people in his same situation, but many of you may not realize that because you don't pay attention to any of the stories that don't involve cops being stupid. Last of all no matter what you think of this guy he plead guilty and is taking his lumps. He could have made this case even more difficult and went to trial, where the girl would probably not have testified and he may have went clean and clear! I don't care about the hate mail about him and what he did but don't try to say this was handled anything but above board.
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negativened
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03-01-09 7:40 AM
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JANITOR! A low grade misdemeanor? This scum violated this young girl's trust. She may have been a agreeing partner but he coerced her into it. I agree wih the advocate also don't criticize the cops wife she din't know. My God some people stay true to their vows of till death do us part. You can't knock her for that. He is a scum bag that deserves more.
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textcop
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03-01-09 1:22 AM
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Glad to see this child molester's "Get out of jail free card" REVOKED. To his wife, they were not "indescretions". He was a police officer, using his job to have sex with a minor. Don't be victim #2. His tears are for him to keep you "waiting for him". Cut your losses and MOVE ON. He is a disgrace to police officers everywhere. He is a disgrace as a husband. To the parents of the young girl. Good Luck, my prayers are with you. I hope you can help her see the light.
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MamaMoo816
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02-28-09 9:09 PM
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First of all 18 - 48 months is a slap on the wrists. That is the problem with the legal system when it comes to sexual abuse of children. Because the girl would not testify against him he gets a slap on the wrists. I am proud to say I know of four brave children who put their own father away for the rest of his natural life because they were brave enough to testify against him. Hopefully he will rot in*****for eternity. Secondly, we should not judge his wife. I do not know her personally but through a mutual friend and she has reasons she has stayed. Never say there is not a good enough reason. Unfortunately sometimes there is no other alternative. He is a criminal. He is a sick human being. He is a child molester. By the way. Bubba won't give him what he has coming because unfortunately those who commit sex crimes against children are housed separately from the general population.
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doejhn465
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02-28-09 8:37 PM
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My guess is that Rick is a sex addict. The support of his wife, pastor and counselor leads me to this conclusion. Sex addiction, like alcohol and gambling, is a real problem. I hope he gets the help he needs. I hope his life doesn't get thrown away by this prison sentence. Only time will tell if this was a good sentence by the judge. As for the victim, she needs a lot of help and counseling as well. So many broken lives and these comments just make fun of people.
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Jenkins
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02-28-09 6:38 PM
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A criminal is a criminal regardless of their lot in life.
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gottabeme
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02-28-09 2:11 PM
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my prayers go out to the wife. to her i would like to say, please seek counseling for yourself. no matter how much you forgave him, your heart was still hurt and you have to take care of you now. this was not anything you caused. While I do not know you, you have my suppport.
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homegrownaltoid
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02-28-09 1:58 PM
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again, "things that make you go Hhmmm". poor lady, (his wife), she deserves our prayers...yes, even him, he's gonna need them...he'll probably do only county time and/or house arrest, the "thin blue line" will not allow one of their own to do state time if they can help it. Ease up on the woman y'all, she's innocent, another victim.
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masters05
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02-28-09 12:41 PM
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I think that what we are trying to say is that his wife is not getting support from him any more. He betrayed her and is going to jail. "Why is she still with him?" This is what most of us don't understand. I am a God fearing person, but even this would make me not stand by my man and forgive him. I think that she needs support from her friends and family right now, not a sick pervert.
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