Man accused of raping woman he was convicted of abusing in 1994

Wallace Ret Johnson
Wallace Ret Johnson

A Fouke, Ark., man is facing new rape charges in Miller County, Ark., involving a woman he pleaded guilty to molesting more than 20 years ago when she was a teen.

Wallace Ret Johnson, 47, pleaded guilty in 1994 to first-degree sexual abuse for misconduct with a 14-year-old mentally disabled girl. Johnson is now accused of two counts of rape and a single count of second-degree sexual assault involving the same alleged victim.

The woman told investigators that Johnson came into her home in Fouke uninvited on three separate dates in September 2018 and sexually abused her. She said that on the last occasion Sept. 23, 2018, she was asleep in her bedroom when Johnson entered around midnight and assaulted her.

The woman reported that when she told him, "No," he got angry, and she told investigators she is afraid of him. Johnson allegedly told investigators his sexual activity with the alleged victim last year was consensual.

He appeared Tuesday before Circuit Judge Kirk Johnson for a pretrial hearing. A recent assessment by mental health professionals found Wallace Johnson is fit to proceed to trial although he does have difficulty reading and writing.

Judge Johnson scheduled the suspect's case for a jury trial in July.

Second-degree sexual assault is typically punishable by five to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $15,000. However, because of prior felony convictions, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kristian Robertson filed notice of the state's desire to enhance the punishment range to five to 40 years in prison.

Wallace Johnson faces 10 to 40 years or life in prison if convicted of rape. He is being held in the Miller County jail. Bail is set at $50,000.

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