‘Predator catcher’ Dodge County assault charge dismissed

By KAALTV

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(ABC 6 News) – A member of vigilante group Midwest Predator Catchers’ 5th-degree assault charge was dismissed in Dodge County Court Friday.

Chase Taner Johnston, 28, was charged with 5th-degree assault Sept. 18, 2022 after allegedly assaulting 30-year-old Joseph Carlson during a confrontation after the group “catfished” him.

Dodge County assistant city attorney Timothy A. Woessner dismissed the charge May 19, according to court records.

Johnston faces further assault charges in Olmsted County Court, following another self-styled “predator catcher” encounter.

Chase Taner Johnston, 28, was charged with 5th-degree assault Sept. 18 after allegedly assaulting 30-year-old Joseph Carlson.

Johnston allegedly assaulted another man during a catfishing attempt where Johnston pretended to be a teenager seeking advice on coming out to his parents.

According to court documents, the fake teenaged account run at least in part by Johnston invited a Rochester man to his home, and the man offered to meet at a public gas station instead.

When the man arrived at the gas station, Johnston allegedly accused the man of soliciting a minor, hit him on the shoulder, face, and groin area, and threatened him.

Witnesses at the gas station told law enforcement they also saw evidence that Johnston slit the man’s tire.

Johnston faces charges of 5th-degree criminal sexual conduct–nonconsensual sexual conduct, 5th-degree assault, and 4th-degree damage to property.

He is scheduled to stand trial in Olmsted County in July.

Johnston faces another charge of obstructing the legal process–interfering with police dating to Febriary of this year. He is scheduled to appear in court on the charge in July.

Johnston also pleaded guilty to domestic assault in October of 2022 and was sentenced to one year of supervised probation.

(ABC 6 News) – A member of vigilante group Midwest Predator Catchers is scheduled to stand trial for alleged 5th-degree assault.

Chase Taner Johnston, 28, was charged with 5th-degree assault Sept. 18 after allegedly assaulting 30-year-old Joseph Carlson during a confrontation after the group “catfished” him.

The encounter took place in Dodge Center.

RELATED: Dodge Center man arrested for child porn, solicitation – ABC 6 News – kaaltv.com
Carlson was later arrested on charges of child pornography and solicitation.

Johnston, who lives in Rochester, is scheduled for a Dec. 19 pretrial in Dodge County Court.