John Jefferson
Left: Rebekah Huskey (Chandra Law). Right: Kent Johnson (court documents).
An ousted Port Clinton, Ohio, fire chief who was accused in a civil lawsuit of sexually harassing and assaulting a now former firefighter and EMT and subsequently lost a wrongful termination suit now faces a criminal indictment on multiple charges, including sex offenses.
According to a Wednesday indictment in Ottawa County, Kent Johnson, 65, stands accused of voyeurism, menacing by stalking, gross sexual imposition, theft, witness intimidation, interfering with civil rights, and unauthorized use of a computer, alleged offenses that Rebekah Huskey’s lawsuit brought to light nearly one year ago.
Huskey, 32, alleged that she has known Johnson since she was a 7-year-old girl and had thought of him “as a father or uncle” figure, since she was a friend of her family (Huskey’s “father and fiancé both work for the fire division,” the suit said). Huskey said that she started volunteering with City of Port Clinton fire division at the age of 16 and worked her way up to being a firefighter and EMT.
Huskey alleged that while she was pregnant Johnson “forcefully” groped her buttocks from behind as she poured herself coffee in July 2021. After she gave birth to her son in September 2021, the chief allegedly began making lewd comments about her body like, “there are men into milking breasts” and that she could “make a fortune off that.”
Johnson allegedly said Huskey’s breasts “looked amazing” and that he now saw her as a “grown, sexy woman” rather than as “a young girl.”
The lawsuit said Johnson’s conduct escalated to sexual assault in July 2022 and that the next day he sent her a text saying he felt “like a pedophile.” The lawsuit highlighted a number of other texts as well.
Rebekah Huskey-Kent Johnson texts ( court docs).
In one of text exchange, the defendant said “Sorry for being crude” after asking Huskey to put N95 masks in her pants for a while, according to the lawsuit.
In another text, Johnson allegedly called Huskey “sexy” and said “You look great.”
Kent Johnson text and voicemail (court docs).
Then, in August 2022, Johnson allegedly cornered Huskey near lockers and sexually assaulted her.
“After Chief Johnson showed her the space, he pushed her face first into the lockers, with her hands on the doors. He gripped her shoulders and pushed his groin into her. He began grunting and rubbing her back and buttocks,” the lawsuit alleged. “Ms. Huskey was frozen with fear. And she did not reciprocate.”
The defendant was accused of saying “I am crazy about you” during the alleged assault, before apologizing by saying there was a lot going on at home.
The lawsuit further alleged that Johnson sexually assaulted an “immobile” Huskey at her home while she was out of work and recovering from back surgery, knowing that her fiancé wouldn’t be there when he showed up unannounced.
“For her it was like something out of a horror movie,” the lawsuit said. “Chief Johnson did not stop knocking until Ms. Huskey, who could barely move, opened the door.”
The fire chief allegedly said he “loved” Huskey, was “obsessed” with her, and said “If your back wasn’t broken, I’d break it.”
Huskey said that when she finally returned to work in January 2023 Johnson made her his “personal secretary” and escalated his alleged conduct over the ensuing months, including by stealing “her underwear and socks for his own prurient, fetishist use.”
Huskey’s lawyer Subodh Chandra said in a statement on the indictment that Johnson’s indictment “represents an important step in her journey toward justice” after “dream job” as a firefighter and EMT turned into a nightmare.
“It takes a great deal of courage for a kind and caring public servant like Rebekah to finally say, ‘enough’ and come forward,” Chandra said. “We are determined to be her voice and help her hold everyone responsible accountable.”
The civil rights lawyer, noting that he is a former federal prosecutor, also said that Johnson “insisted” in an “ill-advised gambit” on testifying before the grand jury.
“I can count on one hand the times that the target of a criminal investigation insisted on testifying to a grand jury, much less situations in which the target’s lawyers permitted it,” Chandra added. “Johnson’s ill-advised gambit failed spectacularly, as the grand jury, with these charges, soundly rejected his testimony.”
Law&Crime reached out to attorneys who have defended Johnson against Huskey’s civil suit for comment.
This is what Johnson said about the allegations before he was placed on administrative leave:
You can read Huskey’s lawsuit in its original form here, the details of the amended suit here, and Johnson’s indictment here.
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