Trial set for Columbia man accused of multiple sex crimes

UPDATE 10:37 a.m.: The pre-trial is underway, and using a cell phone as evidence in the trial is currently under advisement. The defense is also wanting to avoid joining all of the charges of rape and sodomy together. There is also a motion to sever the charges between the different women.

If the judge grants the use of the cell phone footage, the public will not be allowed to see it.

Updates are expected by tomorrow.

ORIGINAL STORY: The trial for a Columbia man charged in four different sex crime cases is expected to start next week.

Joanthony Johnson faces one felony county of attempted sexual abuse, two felony counts of sodomy and two felony counts of rape.

The first crime allegedly took place August 22, 2015. The other crimes ranged between September 2015 and February 2016.

In all but one of the cases, victims were reported to be in drug-induced states during the time Johnson carried out the crimes.

In November 2016, investigators said they found videos on Johnson’s phone that depicted potential sexual assaults.

Johnson is expected to appear in Boone County Court for a pretrial hearing Tuesday.

His trial is set to begin on Monday.