Updated: 5:22 pm | Published: 5:17 pm
PROVO, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A convicted sex offender who faces nearly two dozen counts of rape and assault may never go to prison.
During a competency hearing in Provo, a judge ruled that Lonnie Johnson was incompetent to stand trial after hearing testimony from doctors.
Johnson faces 21 Utah counts of rape sodomy and sexual assault.
The judge ruled that Johnson was incompetent to stand trial for the latest sex abuse cases against him, and that it would violate his Constitutional rights to keep him jailed as prosecutors worked to make him competent. The judge denied a petition from prosecutors to civilly commit Johnson.
That meant Johnson was allowed to walk out of a Provo court a free man after the proceedings.
Under a new Utah law, Johnson could be committed as a “danger to society.” That law does not take effect until May.
Johnson was released in 2011 from a Utah hospital after doctors claimed they could not restore his competency. He was allowed to remain free until Wednesday's hearing.
The ruling upset one of Johnson’s victims and her mother who told ABC 4 News, "Predators don't just stop being predators."
Johnson's has a criminal history, including a 1996 stalking charge out of West Jordan. He pleaded guilty, and the charge was eventually dismissed.
In 1992, Johnson pleaded guilty to felony theft.
He was also convicted of rape in Washington State
During a competency hearing in Provo, a judge ruled that Lonnie Johnson was incompetent to stand trial after hearing testimony from doctors.
Johnson faces 21 Utah counts of rape sodomy and sexual assault.
The judge ruled that Johnson was incompetent to stand trial for the latest sex abuse cases against him, and that it would violate his Constitutional rights to keep him jailed as prosecutors worked to make him competent. The judge denied a petition from prosecutors to civilly commit Johnson.
That meant Johnson was allowed to walk out of a Provo court a free man after the proceedings.
Under a new Utah law, Johnson could be committed as a “danger to society.” That law does not take effect until May.
Johnson was released in 2011 from a Utah hospital after doctors claimed they could not restore his competency. He was allowed to remain free until Wednesday's hearing.
The ruling upset one of Johnson’s victims and her mother who told ABC 4 News, "Predators don't just stop being predators."
Johnson's has a criminal history, including a 1996 stalking charge out of West Jordan. He pleaded guilty, and the charge was eventually dismissed.
In 1992, Johnson pleaded guilty to felony theft.
He was also convicted of rape in Washington State