Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Dad: Jonesboro Suspect Was Molested > NEW YORK (AP) -- One of the two boys accused in the > schoolyard ambush in Arkansas said he had been > repeatedly sexually molested when he was a younger boy > in Minnesota, according to his father and his attorney. > > Thirteen-year-old Mitchell Johnson said he was abused > when he was 6 and 7 years old, his attorney, Tom Furth, > said in an interview recorded for broadcast Monday night > on ABC News' ``20/20.'' > > Mitchell and Drew Golden, 11, face five counts of murder > and 10 counts of first-degree battery each in the March > 24 shooting outside a middle school in Jonesboro, Ark. > Four students and a teacher were killed. > > In a transcript of the interview, Furth and Mitchell's > father, Scott Johnson, described Mitchell as angry about > the abuse and remorseful about the shootings. They said > he has received death threats. > > Johnson said he only learned last week about his son's > alleged abuse, two days before the Sunday interview. The > attacker was ``a family member of the day care where he > was placed,'' Johnson said. > > At that age, Mitchell lived in Grand Meadow, Minn., a > small town about 95 miles south of Minneapolis. His > parents divorced and he later moved to Jonesboro with > his mother. > > ``Mitchell Johnson is very angry about some things that > have happened to him in his past,'' Furth said. ``And > he's 13 years old, and he doesn't know how to handle > some of these things and he doesn't know how to cope > with some of these things.'' > > Neither Furth nor Johnson returned messages Monday > seeking further comment on issues raised in the > interview. > > In the transcript, Johnson appears to confirm earlier > reports that Mitchell was charged with molesting a 2- or > 3-year-old girl while visiting Minnesota last summer. > > Asked what he could say about the incident, Johnson said > only: ``That his actions were inappropriate and that I > took him to the authorities.'' > > ``I thought he would get help,'' he said. > > The record of the case is closed because Mitchell is a > juvenile. > > Furth said Mitchell is hated in Arkansas and his family > fears for his life because of death threats. Some > letters said Mitchell wouldn't make it out of a > detention center alive, Johnson said. > > ``I have a very unpopular client in this country, and > that's because people don't know the answer to why (the > shootings) happened,'' Furth said. > > Johnson also read a letter he said Mitchell wrote three > days ago. It was unclear to whom the letter was > addressed. > > ``Hi. My name is Mitchell,'' Johnson read. ``My thoughts > and prayers are with those people who were killed, or > shot, and their families. I am really sad inside about > everything. My thoughts and prayers are with those kids > that I go to school with. I really want people to know > the real Mitchell someday. Sincerely, Mitchell > Johnson.'' > > If Mitchell is found guilty and sentenced to a detention > center, he likely would be released at age 18. > > Johnson said he didn't think five years of detention was > enough, but when asked what would be enough, he said: > > ``I don't have an answer for that. What is enough for > five lives? I don't think my son should die.'' -- Two rules in life: 1. Don't tell people everything you know. 2. Subscribe/Unsubscribe, email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the body of the message enter: subscribe/unsubscribe law-issues
