By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — Bail has been set in Dunn County Circuit Court at $10,000 cash for a 37-year-old River Falls man charged with one felony count related to the alleged sexual assault of a child in Boyceville.
Derek P. Johnson appeared before Judge James Peterson November 30 for an initial appearance by video conferencing while in custody at the St. Croix County jail.
Johnson told the court he has an attorney to represent him, and Judge Peterson said he would continue the initial appearance to a new date but would set bail at the November 30 hearing for the Dunn County case, according to online court records.
Judge Peterson ordered a $10,000 cash bail and also ordered no contact with an individual identified by initials in the court record who is 13 years old.
According to the St. Croix County jail’s website, Johnson is in custody on probation hold and was arrested on September 13.
Johnson has been convicted of felony possession of methamphetamine, according to the Dunn County criminal complaint, and according to online court records, he was found guilty by a St. Croix County jury in April of 2015 of manufacturing and/or delivering methamphetamine.
St. Croix County Circuit Court Judge Edward Vlack sentenced Johnson to three years in state prison and four years of extended supervision for the felony possession of methamphetamine.
According to the criminal complaint, the sexual assault took place in the Village of Boyceville three or four years ago.
During a forensic interview with a Dunn County social worker, when asked to tell the social worker about Johnson and what had happened, the girl brought her knees to her chest and began crying.
Boyceville Police Chief Greg Lamkin, who received a report several months ago about the sexual assault of a child three or four years ago in Boyceville, observed the interview remotely.
Police Chief Lamkin said he viewed the girl’s act of bringing her knees to her chest “as a protective posture.”
When the social worker asked the girl if Johnson had said anything to her, the girl said he had told her that if she told anyone, he would do the same thing to her younger sister, who was two or three years old at the time.
The first degree sexual assault of a child is a Class B felony that, upon conviction, carries a possible penalty of up to 60 years in prison.
The repeat offender modifier can increase the prison time by two years for a misdemeanor and six years for a felony.
