Marquet Johnson

Marquet Johnson is a former private prisoner transport officer convicted of sexually assaulting multiple women in his custody as pretrial detainees. His actions, deemed a violation of their civil rights, led to a federal indictment and subsequent guilty plea.

Early Life and Career

Little is known about Marquet Johnson's early life, including his date of birth. He worked as an officer for Inmate Services Corporation (ISC), a company responsible for transporting individuals arrested on out-of-state warrants to appropriate jurisdictions.

Criminal Activities

In 2019, Johnson perpetrated a series of sexual assaults against pretrial detainees while on duty. These incidents occurred over four months and involved coercion, rape, and forced oral sex.

Incidents

• July 2019: Johnson, along with his ISC partner, picked up a pretrial detainee in Spencer, Indiana, with the intention of transporting her to the Hays County Jail in San Marco, Texas. During a stop at the ISC headquarters in West Memphis, Arkansas, Johnson assaulted the detainee, forcing her to perform oral sex without consent.
• August 2019: Johnson and his partner transported a woman from Baker County, Oregon, to the Johnson County Jail in Warrensburg, Missouri. Johnson separated from his partner, took the woman to a hotel, and raped her before forcing her to perform oral sex.
• November 2019: Johnson raped another pretrial detainee in New Mexico while en route to a correctional centre in Delta County, Colorado. He threatened the victim with a weapon, coercing her into compliance before sexually assaulting her.

Legal Proceedings

In December 2021, Johnson pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of one of the women he assaulted. His plea agreement implicated him in the sexual assaults of two other pretrial detainees in the months preceding the New Mexico incident. Johnson faces up to 30 years in prison for his crimes.

Response and Prosecution

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez condemned Johnson's actions, emphasising the importance of upholding the dignity and respect of all individuals, regardless of their legal status. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division reiterated the commitment to seeking justice for survivors of such heinous crimes.

The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, in collaboration with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, conducted the investigation into Johnson's crimes.

Aftermath

Marquet Johnson's case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of individuals in custody and underscores the need for stringent oversight and accountability measures within the criminal justice system. His conviction highlights the importance of addressing systemic issues to prevent similar abuses in the future.