Johnson Charged With Theft

JOHNSON, MAY, DEBRUIN

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 12/17/2008 at 23:03:33

Bellevue Herald-Leader
December 6, 2001

Johnson has offered prosecution little assistance in May case
By Lowell Carlson

The county’s top law enforcement official says the Greg May disappearance and the pending first degree theft prosecution of Julie Ann Johnson in connection with the Bellevue man’s vanishing have been “extremely frustrating” cases.

County Attorney John Kies said recently the first degree theft charge Johnson faces is certainly more than just a case of stealing rare Civil War artifacts. With their owner now missing for almost a year and Johnson and her husband caught with many of the missing items when arrested in Arizona on a Jackson County fugitive warrant, Kies said Johnson’s situation is puzzling.

A November court appearance was set back and it appears now that a planned December appearance may not happen either. When she made her initial appearance in magistrate court on the charge of theft she told the court she wanted to “clear this up” to get back to her family.

With Johnson reportedly now planning to enter an open plea of guilt to the charge of first degree theft of rare Civil War and Old West artifacts Kies said his office isn’t willing to make an offer without an indication she intends to provide information about Greg May’s disappearance.

She and Cody Johnson, whose real name is Douglas DeBruin, lived with Greg May in a rented home in Bellevue prior to May’s disappearance.

Without a prior arrest or criminal record is Johnson hoping to be released or serve a limited term if sentenced by a court?

Kies said he obviously cannot answer that but said his office will make every effort to see that does not happen.

Johnson has been held in Clinton County’s detention center facilities for women ever since her return from Flagstaff. Arizona, where she was arrested April 10, along with the man known in Bellevue as Cody Johnson.

Now in detention for almost eight months Johnson was able to gain a bond reduction, but not release when she could not meet the terms imposed by the court for residing in Iowa prior to a court date on the first degree theft charge. Kern has refused to speak to the Herald-Leader following a formal request seeking an interview with the Minnesota native.

Her husband was returned to Wisconsin on a warrant for parole violation and was placed back inside prison walls. With DeBruin behind bars Jackson County officials have focused efforts on gaining his wife’s cooperation.

Law enforcement officials connected with the case here in Jackson County appealed to area deer hunters to be especially vigilant in coming days when they take to the woods.

The appeal is linked as well to a $10,000 reward offered by the children of Greg May, Don and Shannon, for creditable information leading to the whereabouts of May, or May’s remains.

Kies said earlier this fall he believed some trace of Greg May will surface and that he does not believe May’s body was placed near the Mississippi.

Throughout this investigation officials have been careful to avoid the word homicide in connection with the case, but “foul play” has never been ruled out.

In a telephone interview Monday with Greg May’s ex-wife, Sheila, Los Angeles, Calif., May said she understood why Greg May was drawn to Bellevue. She described the community as a “beautiful, quiet place” after visiting several times following May’s disappearance last winter.

Sheila May said her former husband had remained friends and continued to be in close contact.

Sheila May said she had visited with Greg may three times over the 10-day period leading up to his disappearance. “We sent gifts to each other and a book order arrived after he disappeared that included several books for him. He had come out for Christmas,” explained May.

A filing for a conservatorship for his estate, dated Oct. 26, petitioning the court for a temporary conservatorship for an absentee was made by his son Donald May, Los Angeles, on behalf of the family in Jackson County District Court.

The missing man’s personal property was valued at $1,100,000 with a gross annual income from the property of $30,000.

Firstar Bank, Cedar Rapids, was proposed as the temporary conservator.

In the meantime, Bellevue Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Jackson County Attorney’s Office all hope some piece of crucial information or evidence will surface in a case that has begged resolution now for almost a year.