A Lodgepole man is facing a burglary charge in Scotts Bluff County, accused of luring a victim from his rural residence and pillaging his home.
In court documents, investigators say the victim told them he had arranged to have 29-year-old Justin Johnson come to his home Feb. 20 to for the victim to purchase drugs, but when the victim didn’t have the money, Johnson assaulted him and took several items.
The victim claimed that he had arranged to meet Johnson two days later at a gas station to give him money and get his belongings, but when Johnson didn’t show, the victim returned home to find his front door kicked in and several items stolen including a big screen TV.
Investigators say Johnson was arrested a few days later with stolen items found inside his vehicle, and a search of his phone uncovered text messages that indicated the point of the exercise was to get the victim out of their home so it could be ransacked.
Johnson was scheduled to make an initial appearance in Scotts Bluff Co. Court Wednesday afternoon, with initial bond set at $150,000 with a ten percent provision.
