Suspect in blaze has violent past

23-year-old man now charged in deaths of 2 people

Dick Foster, Rocky Mountain News

Published January 20, 2007 at midnight

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COLORADO SPRINGS - Derrick Nicholas Johnson cut a violent swath through Colorado Springs and El Paso County for five years before his arrest on charges of setting the Castle West Apartment fire that killed at least two people.

Court records show more than a dozen arrests or convictions from 2001 to 2006, including theft, burglary, aggravated robbery, drug distribution, assault, sexual assault and domestic violence.

Now, the 23-year-old Johnson faces at least two counts of first-degree murder. He was advised of his rights Friday afternoon in the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center.

Johnson is accused along with his cousin, Gene Johnson, 36, of setting fire to the east Colorado Springs apartment complex late Monday night or early Tuesday, after he had a fight with his girlfriend, who was staying there.

The blaze trapped scores of residents, forcing firefighters to pluck them from windows and balconies as the building was consumed by flames.

The heavy damage prevented firefighters from entering the building to look for victims until Wednesday afternoon.

The body of the first of two victims found in the debris couldn't be removed until Friday. He was identified only as a Caucasian or Hispanic male, possibly in his 40s or 50s.

Gene Johnson

Derrick Johnson

"The identity of the victim is unknown at this time," police Lt. Rafael Cintron said. An autopsy will be performed next week.

Recovery of the second victim's body may be delayed by another storm that is expected to drop several inches of snow over the weekend.

Fire Marshal Brett Lacey also warned that other bodies may be found beneath the debris.

Police have received no reports of missing persons to indicate others might have died in the fire, Cmdr. Harry Killa said.

Residents said that soon after the fire broke, just after midnight Tuesday, a young woman was crying hysterically outside the building that her boyfriend had threatened her after they fought. Before noon Derrick Johnson was arrested on felony menacing charges.

Gene Johnson was arrested Wednesday on first-degree murder charges after the two victims were discovered. First-degree murder was added to Derrick Johnson's charges Thursday.

Derrick Johnson was convicted of sexual assault in 2001 at age 17, court records show.

In 2002, the 6-foot-2-inch, 270-pound man was arrested for repeatedly punching a female student in the stomach and ribs at the Widefield Public Library.

Derrick Johnson had repeated fights with Tiffany Hampton, the mother of his son, court records show.

When Hampton moved out of their apartment in 2004, he urinated on an open suitcase of her clothes, then threw them off the balcony. As Hampton tried to leave, Derrick Johnson grabbed her by the throat until his sister yelled at him to let her go. When Hampton got into her vehicle, he smashed out windows, then grabbed Hamptom by the hair and began pulling her out through the window. Derrick Johnson's sister drove away forcing him to let go.

His mother told police after the incident that he has autism and bipolar disorder and does not take his medication. Derrick Johnson was given two years probation and ordered to maintain his medications and counseling.

Derrick Johnson threatened Hampton a second time in 2005.

He was arrested in 2005 for robbing a couple at gunpoint in the parking lot of his apartment building, telling them, "Don't try nothing. I'm trigger happy."

Cases remain open on a home burglary in Fountain last year and the robbery. He faces trial in both cases later this year.

Numerous arrests

Derrick Johnson's arrest record:

• April 6, 2001: First-degree sexual assault (conviction date; arrest date undisclosed)

• Jan. 30, 2002: Assault, robbery, child cruelty, harassment

• Dec. 12, 2002: Unlawful distribution of controlled substance

• Jan. 28, 2004: Failure to register as a sex offender

• April 26, 2004: Failure to appear, violation of bail bond

• June 20, 2004: Failure to appear, failure to register as a sex offender

• Oct. 21, 2004: Trespassing, assault, domestic violence, child abuse, harassment, criminal mischief

• April 24, 2005: Possession of a dangerous weapon, criminal trespass, driving without insurance

• June 16, 2005: Aggravated robbery, felony menacing