Ex-KU player faces charges

By Joel Mathis     Jun 30, 2000

A former Kansas University football player was charged Thursday with helping rob money and marijuana from a Lawrence man this week.

Dion C. Johnson, 23, is charged in Douglas County District Court with felony counts of aggravated robbery and kidnapping in connection with the Tuesday night incident.

Police say Johnson didn’t participate in the actual robbery, but told two other men that cash and drugs could be found at the residence. Johnson was arrested Wednesday at a Lawrence hotel.

Lawrence Police Sgt. Mark Warren said the incident happened about 10:50 p.m. Tuesday at the home of a 21-year-old man in the 1700 block of Kentucky Street.

One of the suspects, a 22-year-old Springfield, Mo., man, knocked on the door, Warren said, then threatened the resident with a gun, asking for the marijuana and money. The assailant let an unidentified accomplice into the home through a side door.

The pair left with an undetermined amount of money and marijuana, Warren said. The resident then reported the robbery to police — initially omitting any mention of drugs.

When the man did mention marijuana, Warren said, he pointed to Johnson as a possible culprit.

“I know a guy,” the man told police. “I think he set me up.”

Police found Johnson on Wednesday at a hotel in the 800 block of Iowa Street. With him was the Springfield man, Warren said, who matched the description of the first robber.

Johnson made a first court appearance Thursday. Bond was set at $40,000 and a hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.

No charges had been filed Thursday against anyone else involved in the incident.

Johnson played defensive end for the Jayhawks, redshirting his freshman year and ending his career as a senior during the 1999 season.

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