Ariz. warrant cites Md. college president

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By Kristi Jourdan THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Maricopa County sheriff's detectives want to talk with embattled Montgomery College President Brian K. Johnson about an outstanding warrant that would land him in jail if he returned to Arizona.

Capt. Larry Farnsworth said the department is looking at Mr. Johnson, who is accused of owing at least $12,000 in child support in Maricopa County, Ariz., and confirmed the warrant is still active in that state.

"I'd love to convince him to come back," Capt. Farnsworth told The Washington Times. "I'm happy to make him a resident of our jail."

The Montgomery College Board of Trustees is expected on Thursday to decide the fate of Mr. Johnson, who has been accused of mismanagement and excessive spending. College officials have said Mr. Johnson is regularly absent from the office and has not attended meetings with key politicians, including Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.

According to the sheriff's Web site, Mr. Johnson is listed as one of the county's "deadbeat parents." The site asks for information regarding his location and says an arrest warrant was sent to a Pennsylvania address of the college president and his wife in October -- after Mr. Johnson sold the home, according to property records.

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that a bench warrant had been issued but that Mr. Johnson had paid the sum.

Maricopa County sheriff's officials said Wednesday afternoon they had no information indicating the debt had been satisfied and that the warrant was still active.

"We'd be happy to put him in jail," Capt. Farnsworth told The Times. "We're an equal opportunity arrester."

Capt. Farnsworth said Mr. Johnson could not be extradited from Maryland based on the warrant.

"It's not that we don't want him, but once he's out of state we can't touch him," he said.