Freddie Johnson has been arrested 53 times for groping women on NYC subway trains. Now, he faces life in prison for his latest arrest, which came only two weeks after his release from prison.
This time, plainclothes officers recognized Freddie from police photos of repeat offenders. They followed him, while he groped a female passenger selected at random.
Gropers often attack in crowded areas, and almost always escape. Apparently, there is not a crossover of offenders that grope, and those that engage in rape or other serious sexual assault. According to a recent survey, 63 percent of respondents reported being sexually harassed in some way on the NYC subway.
Like graffiti — the negative impact of an anonymous grope seems less severe than other crimes; but both subway-prone crimes decrease the overall feeling of security in the community. Plus, unlike graffiti, which everyone sees, groping involves personal violation, not shared with all the other riders.
If Freddie Johnson is intent on re-offending, does New York have no choice but to lock him up forever? Or, should we spend tax money locking up more dangerous offenders, while suffering an occasional grope?
Emilio Pucci
This guy has serious impulse control issues. Ick! A little bit of prison time hasn't helped, so what are ya gonna do?
1After 53 times being locked up, there really is no other choice. I think the government and the people of New York have given him more then enough chances to rehabilitate. Groping can be traumatic, and nobody should have to fear being violated in that manner.
And I think groping is WAY more severe then graffiti.
Liberty do you have any studies that show the link or lack there of between groping and rape?
2Yes, plus let's think of the tax payer's money NY pays every time they catch him, try him in front of a jury of his peers and then send him BACK to prison. Let's just keep him there for life so we don't have to pay for more court dates AND women in NY can ride a subway grope-free. Sorry liberty, but I agree with cine, grope + graffiti cannot be compared. And no one should have to "suffer an occasional grope" just because some moron can't keep his hands to himself 53 times!!!!
3Hopefully, with his sentence - he will have a lot of options to grope and be groped.
4bellaressa, I loved your comment. LOL!! I just can't imagine how many times he's actually done it without gettin caught and the ladies that have been molested by him. UGH!!!
5He will be a nice piece of a** for someone behind bars, keep the pants low man, keep em low.
6Being that I ride the NYC subways every day, I would rather see this guy behind bars than let him go free with just a slap on the wrist. Groping, and the occasional perv masturbating in public places like the subway and Port Authority, really make riding public transportation alone as a woman an ordeal. I always try to commute with my boyfriend now so he can protect me from anyone groping my lady parts on the busy train.
7I am glad to see this perv put behind bars. This isn't indicitive of how men behave, and should never be condoned.
8Even if he isn't thrown in jail for life, can't he banned from the Subway? Or is that not a feasible option (I honestly don't know, I've only ridden a subway twice in my life)?
9Gross...gross...gross. What a creep. I agree with cine. He's been caught 53 times. Just think of how many times he hasn't been. He clearly won't stop. The only option is to lock him up. OR ban him from ALL public activity...house arrest maybe? I don't know. What a creep.
10I agree Syako and Cine.
"He's been caught 53 times. Just think of how many times he hasn't been."
Very good point, Harmony!
The sad thing is that these pervs are everywhere. Just out of curiosity...how many people on this board have been groped by a pervert in a public place?
I have.
11I ride the L here in Chicago and I never been groped but I have seen public pleasing and I was a little disturb after I got over the shock.
12I think almost every woman who regularly rides public transit has been groped. It's disgusting. I say throw the guy in the clink and try to rehabilitate him — it's clear that he has a serious problem.
In Tokyo, the metro trains have a women-only car for rush hour. I loved that idea, and yes, it is to give women an option for avoiding the random grope. I'm all for ideas like this as well!
13I ride the subway everyday and have taken public transit in multiple cities, I have never been groped. I have also never witnessed anyone be groped.
Mandy, unfortunately banning him from subways is not plausible.
14I'm sorry the title tickles me pink but on a serious note I believe that a life sentence for coping a feel although offensive is excessive in my opinion.
If he has clearly set a track record of groping people 53x and in crowded areas I don't think he's a danger to anyone yet clearly an annoyance. You don't put an annoyance away for life.
15"I don't think he's a danger to anyone yet clearly an annoyance. You don't put an annoyance away for life."
Being violated sexually is a bit more serious then an annoyance.
16I thought as a man on the NYC Subway you were required to grope people. My bad.
17Maybe house arrest is a better answer... or the loony bin. But I don't know about putting someone in jail for life for groping. It's disgusting, it's wrong, but it's not exactly rape/homicide.
18He needs some sessions with a shrink, and maybe some time behind bars. But life in prison seems a bit harsh... Maybe they could send him out to some little rural town where there's no sort of public transportation and people carry guns? (Not that I approve of gun-carrying, but I'm just saying...) He'd probably learn quite quickly that groping n'est-ce pas appreciated...
I'm reliant on public transport (buses and metro/trains) at home in DC and when I'm in London, but I've never been bothered, thankfully...
@ Bella - I like the sound of a woman-only car at rush hour, but I can't imagine that working in London or DC...
19Jillness, I have been trying for years to get groped, but no one seems to come near me. Am I being too desparate maybe?
20I stopped riding the el by myself bella. I take the metra to get to work now. It's cleaner, there aren't any homeless people on it, and there are ticket collectors constantly walking up and down the aisles. Everyone's dressed in business casual. I just feel a lot less uneasy about it...especially at night.
21I just mentioned you since we're both Chicago girls.
22Go Cubbies!!
My wife is a Sox fan though
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