Search
Make wishtv.com your home page

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — A husband and wife each face more than a dozen charges amid allegations they have had sex with their three children since 2012 at various homes in west-central Indiana.

Court records show an investigation of Keylin Lee Johnson, 52, and Sheila Lynn Johnson, 44, began when the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received a report Feb. 25. A woman told an officer that the couple’s two oldest children had come to visit and talked with her about “possible sexual abuse.”

Police spoke that same day with the oldest child, who said Keylin Johnson, the father, had advised the oldest child that “incest was a normal way of life” and “the best way to build a family bond was to have sex with your parents, particularly your mother,” court documents said.

“He (the father) also advised it was safer to have sex with people in your own family, rather than strangers,” the documents said.

The oldest child “also indicated that his mother was involved in sexual relations with the family dog.”

The youngest child was removed from the family’s home in Montgomery County the next day. Investigators also took cellphones and computer gear from the home that day.

The youngest child told authorities that “both of her parents would do gross things in the home,” court documents said. “She was shown sexual videos and pornography and that her aunt used to bring adult things to a residence in Mooresville and she observed the adults would do sexual things.”

During interviews with police, Sheila Johnson, the mother, admitted to multiple acts of child abuse and incest with two of her children and an attempt at bestiality with a dog, the court documents showed. She said her husband “would always want to role play and suggested mother-son sex scenarios.”

Keylin Johnson told police that “I am guilty of internet porn and other stuff” and described himself as being addicted to pornography, according to the court documents. He admitted to police he had downloaded and saved photos of one of his children nude from the child’s cellphone.

The family has lived in homes in Crawfordsville, Ladoga, New Market and Waveland since 2012.

Keylin Johnson faces 18 charges including multiple counts of child molesting and incest and a count of possession of child pornography.

Sheila Johnson faces 17 charges including multiple counts of child molesting and incest and a count of bestiality.

The couple remained in the Montgomery County Jail on Friday. A jury trial is set for Sheila Johnson on July 31 and for Keylin Johnson on Aug. 14.

LADOGA, Ind. (WISH) — A man in Ladoga is without a driver’s license after the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles said he gave them fake documents.

But he said those documents were false through no fault of his own.

Alex Verhonik reached out to I-Team 8 when he got a letter in the mail from the BMV saying he used fraudulent Ride Safe Indiana Motorcycle Safety documents to get his motorcycle endorsement.

“I received a letter that says that I’m getting my license suspended for 90 days and possible pending of a Class 6 Felony for … what did I do wrong?” Verhonik asked.

Verhonik said he took a class in fall 2016 with a man who said he was an ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education) instructor. Verhonik paid the man $200 to take the course and get certified for his motorcycle endorsement. He said the BMV accepted the paperwork from his training session without a second thought, until late September, when the letter arrived.

Now Verhonik’s license is suspended for 90 days, starting Friday.

“I don’t think we should get in trouble for something somebody else did,” Verhonik said. “I mean, he made over $50,000 off of people.”

ABATE of Indiana says they’ve taught hundreds of riders over almost 40 years. Their mission is to ensure their students know motorcycle safety so they can get the motorcycle endorsement on a driver’s license.

“We’ve never had a problem like this with fraudulent documents until this (training certification) document was created,” said Jay Jackson, ABATE of Indiana’s executive director.

Jackson began hearing about a man posing as an ABATE staff member, giving customers fraudulent documents and even using the name of a former ABATE instructor.

I-Team 8 reached out to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. While they declined to speak with I-Team 8 on camera, as this is an ongoing investigation, they said the Indiana State Police are involved.

The BMV says less than 1 percent of people in the state with a motorcycle endorsement have been affected — but that could still mean hundreds of victims.

If you are one of the victims, the BMV spokesperson advises you follow the guidelines on your letter to request a hearing.

If you are worried about becoming a victim, visit the Ride Safe Indiana website to find a class approved by the state.

If you are taking an ABATE course, Jackson says to ensure the course is at one of organization’s approved times and locations by visiting their website or call 1-800-232-2283.