Jericho Lee Marvin Johnson, 26, Greenfield
GREENFIELD — Officials with the Greenfield Police Department have arrested a Greenfield man who worked for the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis after-school program hosted at J.B. Stephens Elementary. Two children attending the after-care school program reported that the man touched them inappropriately while under the program’s care.
Jericho Lee Marvin Johnson, 26, 16oo block of Carlton Drive, was arrested at 10:50 a.m. Friday morning and is currently being held in the Hancock County Jail under a preliminary charge of molestation, according to jail records. However, officials from the GPD said in a release that Johnson has not yet been formally charged with any crime and formal charges will be determined by the Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office.
Officials with the GPD noted that Johnson works for the YMCA and was working in that capacity earlier this week at J.B. Stephens Elementary School. Officials said they received a 911 call on Feb. 14 from a parent who reported a man at the school had touched their child inappropriately.
Deputy Chief Chuck McMichael noted in a release that when officers arrived at the school, they learned a second child was reporting the same events.
“Both children reported that Mr. Johnson had touched them,” McMichael said.
The parents notified school officials and the YMCA personnel at the school, and Johnson was immediately suspended and left the school prior to the officers’ arriving, McMichael said in the release. Officials say the YMCA staff provided officers with Johnson’s information and he was later contacted and interviewed.
Tony Wise of the YMCA noted they will do all they can to keep children safe and will continue to work with law enforcement surrounding this case.
“The safety and well-being of children in our programs is our top priority,” Wise said in the release. “We will continue to cooperate with Greenfield Police and the Indiana Department of Child Services in response to allegations by a student that have been brought against a YMCA staff member at our Before and After School program.”
Officials noted the employee has been suspended and banned from all future YMCA programs and events.
McMichael said they are asking parents who have children in the YMCA after-school program at J.B. Stephens Elementary since Jan. 12, or had contact with Johnson from any other place, to talk with their children to ensure they have not been abused by Johnson. If after conversations with a child and a parent or guardian feels their child may have been a victim of abuse, please contact Detective Andrew Pfaff at 317-477-4410 or call the Hancock County 911 Center at 317-477-4400 to make a report with an officer.
McMichael noted now is a great time for parents to have conversations with their children about where other people may touch them; Good Touch/Bad Touch.
“These are difficult conversations to have and the more they are had, the more comfortable your children will be in reporting incidents like this to you,” McMichael said.
People may follow the link from the University of Michigan for more information on how to have the conversation with a child at www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/7-ways-talk-your-child-about-good-and-bad-touch.
