Half-dressed man caught with teen in truck at Raleigh County travel plaza

BECKLEY, W.Va. — An Arkansas man traveling with a teen girl was arrested at the Beckley Travel Plaza on Thursday and charged with sexual abuse.

Michael Resse Johnson Jr., 55, was taken into custody by West Virginia State Police, who reportedly were able to track his passenger’s cell phone, after troopers were notified a cell tower ping indicated the two were traveling on Interstate 77 in the Beckley area.

Michael Johnson Jr.

According to the officers who responded, Johnson was found inside a parked commercial vehicle, partially dressed, with a missing Kentucky teenager who also was not fully clothed.

Court documents state Johnson told officers he engaged in multiple sexual encounters with the juvenile, after picking her up in Shepherdstown, Kentucky.

Johnson was charged with sexual abuse by a parent or guardian and taken to Southern Regional Jail.

Bond was set at $150,000, cash only.





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