A former physical education teacher and girls basketball coach in the Bronx faces serious allegations of raping a 14-year-old student after taking her to a motel following a game, according to prosecutors.
The girl, who played on the team he coached, is at the center of a disturbing indictment announced Wednesday by Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. The charges against Johnson include second-degree rape and sexual abuse.
Johnson, who was arrested in December, reportedly committed the assault a year earlier while employed as a “physical education specialist” and middle school basketball coach at Icahn Charter School 2 in the Van Nest neighborhood.
Prosecutors state that on December 23, 2024, Johnson allegedly approached a teenage boy he was coaching after a game and convinced the girl to accompany him to the Jet Set Motel, located near Third Avenue and East 184th Street, where he raped her.
During his time at the charter school, he also held the position of program director for the afterschool New York Junior Tennis & Learning program until March 2024.
Interestingly, Johnson’s LinkedIn profile indicated that working with middle school students was a lesson in “patience and engaging young people.” He expressed a desire to support students in gaining university acceptance to help them achieve their dreams.
In his profile, he mentioned, “I believe this is not only a job, but a passion for me. I want to bring kids together in a place where I believe they will fit in and have a great experience.”
Ican Charter School No. 2 has chosen not to comment on Johnson’s arrest, simply noting that he is no longer part of the staff.
Bronx District Attorney Clark emphasized the breach of trust in this case, stating, “This defendant allegedly took a teenage girl to a motel, where he allegedly raped the victim. As a basketball coach, this defendant was trusted by school leaders, parents, and students. In this case, instead of honoring that trust, he violated it.”
Johnson is slated to appear in court again on April 21.
