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Denver sexual assault suspect has troubling history

The 48-year-old's story starts back in 1999. He sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl in Texas and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Credit: Denver Police Department
A prior booking photo of Johnny Harris.

DENVER - Police want to find a homeless man in Denver they believe kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman at the end of March. Police say he attempted another sexual assault the next day.

Forty-eight-year-old Johnny Dewayne Harris’ story starts back in 1999. He sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl in Texas and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

He eventually made his way to Colorado and, in 2016, Denver Police arrested him for exposing himself to a minor and adults. He got an 18-month sentence for that.

Then, on March 26 of this year, police say he kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman. The next day he attempted another sexual assault. That time, the woman got away but police say he did assault her, just not sexually. He’s also wanted for felony menacing in both cases.

Police won’t tell us where these assaults happened - to protect the victims, law enforcement says.

Harris is homeless. The sex offender registry lists his address as the 2000 block of Arapahoe street. He spends time near the downtown shelters just a few blocks away. He also hangs at the Denver Public Library and further south on Broadway, sometimes in antique shops.

Police say he carries a knife. Denver Metro Crime Stoppers is offering a reward up to $2,000 for information that leads to an arrest. That number is 720-913-7867(STOP).

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