Steve Perry wanted by Florida police!
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 5:53 amAt least now we all know what he's been up to.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.d ... 70352/1006
Police say 'missing' man once a suspect
Steve Perry faced rape charge in '90s
BY JOHN A. TORRES
Detective Johnny Lawson recognized homeless man Tommy Johnson's photo in Tuesday's newspaper immediately.
But he knew the man as Steve Perry.
The same Steve Perry he arrested 16 years ago in the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl in 1991. The same Steve Perry who was extradited to Brevard County after nearly two decades as a fugitive and who a jury acquitted last year in part because the company holding DNA evidence had gone out of business.
In checking arrest records nationally, Lawson discovered that Perry, or Johnson, had numerous aliases, including John William Livingston, Tony Perry, Dee Wilson, Tony Wilson and Tony Johnson, among others.
"He's also used at least six different Social Security numbers," said Lawson, who is with the Melbourne Police Department. "When we first arrested him, he was released to appear in court. But he never came back."
In 2005, Lawson said, Johnson was picked up in Las Vegas and fingerprint technology alerted police that he was a fugitive from Brevard County. He was extradited and tried.
Now, he is homeless. In November he approached FLORIDA TODAY for help in trying to prove his real identity. He admitted to buying identities over the years -- including the name Steve Perry -- and to doing illegal things. But he said he wanted to turn his life around and start earning an honest living.
He was working with John Farrell of the Daily Bread but became impatient and left. Just last week, a relative, Sonia Johnson, came forward and offered to take him in and take care of him.
"I wish we were there to help him," Sonia Johnson said, explaining that some of Johnson's mental problems can be traced to a motorcycle accident he suffered as a teenager. "I know he is not dangerous."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.d ... 70352/1006
Police say 'missing' man once a suspect
Steve Perry faced rape charge in '90s
BY JOHN A. TORRES
Detective Johnny Lawson recognized homeless man Tommy Johnson's photo in Tuesday's newspaper immediately.
But he knew the man as Steve Perry.
The same Steve Perry he arrested 16 years ago in the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl in 1991. The same Steve Perry who was extradited to Brevard County after nearly two decades as a fugitive and who a jury acquitted last year in part because the company holding DNA evidence had gone out of business.
In checking arrest records nationally, Lawson discovered that Perry, or Johnson, had numerous aliases, including John William Livingston, Tony Perry, Dee Wilson, Tony Wilson and Tony Johnson, among others.
"He's also used at least six different Social Security numbers," said Lawson, who is with the Melbourne Police Department. "When we first arrested him, he was released to appear in court. But he never came back."
In 2005, Lawson said, Johnson was picked up in Las Vegas and fingerprint technology alerted police that he was a fugitive from Brevard County. He was extradited and tried.
Now, he is homeless. In November he approached FLORIDA TODAY for help in trying to prove his real identity. He admitted to buying identities over the years -- including the name Steve Perry -- and to doing illegal things. But he said he wanted to turn his life around and start earning an honest living.
He was working with John Farrell of the Daily Bread but became impatient and left. Just last week, a relative, Sonia Johnson, came forward and offered to take him in and take care of him.
"I wish we were there to help him," Sonia Johnson said, explaining that some of Johnson's mental problems can be traced to a motorcycle accident he suffered as a teenager. "I know he is not dangerous."
