Former fire marshal sentenced for attempting to entice minor

KANSAS CITY — A former Missouri fire marshal was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for using the Internet to attempt to entice a minor to have sex.

U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple sentenced Lee E. Johnson, 49, of Warrensburg, to 10 years in prison without parole Wednesday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Johnson was a fire investigator with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Missouri Department of Public Safety.

Johnson pleaded guilty on Aug. 21. He admitted that he engaged in an online chat with an undercover police officer, who identified himself as a 13-year-old girl, on Jan. 27.

Johnson, believing that the images were being transferred to a 13-year-old girl, masturbated in front of his Web camera during that chat and again on Jan. 29.

Johnson also held a black handgun up in front of the Web camera that he said was a Glock, adding that he had three handguns in his home.

Johnson was arrested by Independence police in front his home on Jan. 30. Police had followed in him Warrensburg High School, where he had been watching a freshman girls basketball game. Police officers approached his vehicle, placed him at gunpoint and ordered him to put up his hands.

Johnson initially complied and put his hands up, but began lowering his right hand down toward his side out of view as if he might be reaching for a weapon. Johnson was pulled out of the vehicle and handcuffed behind his back, and a loaded Glock handgun was recovered from the back of his waistband.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia L. Cordes and investigated by Independence police.