DNA match nets arrest of suspect in 2 sex assaults

By MIKE WISER, Rockford Register Star

ROCKFORD — Forensic science stepped in where old-fashioned legwork couldn’t, and now Rockford police investigators believe they’ve solved two rape cases from years ago.

Ernie Dwayne Johnson, 44, was arrested Friday at his home in the 2700 block of City View Court after he was linked to a pair of sexual-assault cases from 1990 and 1998 involving young boys.

Johnson, court records show, has been in and out of jail most of his adult life for sex and property crimes. Tuesday night, he was in the Winnebago County Jail on $10 million bond.

At the time of his arrest, Johnson was on parole for a 1997 burglary for which he had been sentenced to 15 years following his “guilty, but mentally ill” plea.

It’s possible Johnson would have remained free, if not for work by the Illinois State Police Forensic Science Center.

“Certainly, without DNA, these cases would have likely remained unsolved,” Rockford police Lt. Steve Pirages said Tuesday.

“We were contacted by the crime lab. They told us there was a match between the cases and gave us a suspect name.”

In the 1990 case, two brothers were on their way to school in the 200 block of Irving Avenue about 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 19 when they were grabbed off the street and taken to an abandoned home.

There, one of the boys was sexually assaulted. After the assault, the suspect fled the home and the boys went to school and told their principal, who contacted police.

In the 1998 case, a 9-year-old boy was walking home from basketball practice about 7 p.m. Jan. 26 when he was abducted in the 1900 block of West State Street and taken to an abandoned home.

There, the boy was sexually assaulted by the man, who fled after the assault. The boy went home and told his mother about the incident.

Police say both incidents were investigated and numerous family members, witnesses and potential suspects were interviewed. Johnson, however, was not among them, Pirages said.

State crime lab officials did not return calls made through the Rockford office.

Pirages said that since the lab identified Johnson as a suspect, other cases are being reviewed although, “none come to mind that fit this” pattern.

Pirages said he has talked to the victims in both cases.

“They are very pleased that a suspect has been identified,” he said.