Man accused of sexually battering woman with disability

This man is behind bars accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old girl with a disability in Lake County. Police say the suspect met up with the victim on Sunday and assaulted her throughout the night. Marie Ettinger is live in Eustis now with more on this story. Marie The police chief told me this man has an extensive criminal history, but nothing so far as he knows involving a case of sexual abuse in the past. The chief says he's hoping that after this arrest, that man won't be able to victimize anyone else in the future. An 18-year-old girl with a cognitive disability told Eustis Police she'd been sleeping underneath this gazebo when 53-year-old Alexander Benjamin Johnson walked up to her and asked her to go sleep with him somewhere else. They walked to this church about a half mile away. But when she laid down to sleep, she says Johnson started touching her inappropriately and eventually raping her, adding up to six separate counts of sexual battery. This young lady has some severe cognitive issues, disabilities that. Make her vulnerable. He took advantage of this victim and we're gonna make sure that we keep him in custody and take him to trial so he can't do this again to anybody else. The Bureau of Justice statistics have found people with cognitive disabilities are almost seven times as likely to be the victims of violent crimes as compared with the general population And half as likely to report rape. Officers noted the victim seemed confused when talking about what happened. The litigation director at Disability Rights Florida told me that's not uncommon. People with disabilities are often left out of things like sex education. They are assumed to not be interested or that's not appropriate for them. But, you know, sex education can include things like, you know, these safety measures, safety precautions. And who to report to. Johnson has limited criminal history in Lake County. He served 15 days in jail for driving without a license. Elsewhere though, the chief says he's been booked for things like burglary, trespassing, assault and domestic battery. He is not a sexual offender or sexual predator, but he does have an extensive criminal history in Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Florida. So he's a career criminal and here he is on our streets Preying on innocent victims. The morning after this happened, police say Johnson and the woman he's accused of raping went to a drop in homeless services shelter and center called Open Door. I reached out to Open Door. They told me they can't comment on this case specifically or on the services they provided to either of these people, but the police chief told me it's video Open Door provided to them that actually led them to figure out who Johnson is and ultimately make this arrest. Live in Eustis, Marie Edinger, Fox 35 news.