In Memory
John Wesley Johnson
Jul. 31, 1967 - May 10, 2002
The South Bend man charged with embezzling close to $50,000 from a Benton Harbor youth organization committed suicide late Thursday night or early Friday morning, a Berrien County assistant prosecutor said Monday.
Assistant Prosecutor Caryn Hebets said John W. Johnson, 34, was found dead in his apartment by his brother. Johnson apparently shot himself.
Hebets said police informed her of Johnson's death on Friday afternoon.
Johnson was a teacher at Benton Harbor Charter School, Hebets said.
After a preliminary examination on April 24, Berrien County Trial Judge John Hammond bound Johnson over for trial on charges of embezzlement and uttering and publishing. No trial date had been set.
Authorities alleged Johnson used funds from the LOFT teen center in Benton Harbor to pay bills for his divorce attorney, medical services and his child's schooling, among other things. He also allegedly forged signatures of a former LOFT treasurer on 12 checks.
The alleged embezzlement occurred between January 1999 and August 2000 while Johnson was the director of the LOFT, which stands for Learning Opportunities for Teens.
05/18/2021 DEC
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