Vineland coach accused of sex assault arrested in Fla.
By JOHN MARTINS
Staff Writer, 856-794-5114
Published: Thursday, July 24, 2008
BRIDGETON - Federal marshals arrested a youth boxing coach from Vineland on Monday afternoon on charges that he has been sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl for about three years.Marvin E. Johnson, 42, of Mays Landing Road in Vineland, was at his sister's house in Daytona Beach, Fla., when federal agents spotted him walking over to his Cadillac Escalade, said U.S. Marshals spokesman Michael Schroeder.Johnson was arrested without incident and taken to the local county jail.He has been charged with multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault, sexual contact, kidnapping and child-endangering. Johnson was awaiting an extradition hearing as of Wednesday afternoon.According to Cumberland County Prosecutor Ron Casella, the charges stem from a years-long abusive relationship Johnson has maintained with a girl he met at the Boys and Girls Club of Vineland, where he worked as a boxing instructor.
The girl, Casella said, revealed the abusive nature of the relationship to a counselor with the state's Division of Youth and Family Services, which then notified Vineland police.The complaints against Johnson, Casella added, were signed July 10. It was unclear exactly when Johnson traveled to Florida, but Casella said authorities think the trip was an attempt to flee from police."It's our belief that when we started looking for him, he may have become aware of us," Casella said. "We suspected that might be why he suddenly took off."Chris Volker, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club in Vineland, said Wednesday that Johnson has been fired from his post at the nonprofit youth services agency for abandoning his job."The safety of the kids is our main priority," Volker said. "Of course we're very upset at the whole situation. He was discharged immediately."Police do not believe any inappropriate contact took place at the Boys and Girls Club, Casella said, adding that investigators believe Johnson first earned trust from the girl and her family before initiating sexual contact.According to county authorities, Johnson worked in the state's prison system before his early retirement, which was apparently prompted by disability.A spokeswoman at the state's Department of Corrections, however, was unable to corroborate that employment history because the birth date police provided for Johnson did not match any records on file.According to police, Johnson also worked at the Woodbine Developmental Center and has been associated in the past with the Vineland Police Athletic League, which also offers sports and recreation alternatives for at-risk youth.Although the current charges against Johnson stem solely from the alleged assault on the 15-year-old girl, Casella said, detectives suspect there may be other victims."Additional information directed us that way, but at this time we are only prepared to go forward on allegations on one child," Casella said.Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Special Victims Unit of the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office at 856-453-0486.E-mail John Martins:JMartins@pressofac.com
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