Curt Johnson sex assault case put on hold

RACINE -- The sexual assault case against billionaire Curt Johnson has been put on hold. Johnson was in court Monday, April 23rd when the state requested a delay in sending the case to trial because a key witness will not be available.

Johnson, an heir to the S.C. Johnson fortune, is charged with sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl. Johnson pleaded not guilty in the case.

The state filed a motion to postpone the trial after a request to subpoena an Arizona therapist fell through. The therapist was supposed to testify on statements allegedly made by Johnson while in therapy. The doctor's attorney said the therapist never heard the alleged statements and therefore didn't have to travel to Wisconsin to testify.

The state says it doesn't believe the trail can proceed without the therapist's testimony. The state has about two weeks to ask the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review a recent Court of Appeals decision.

The defense in the case objected to delaying the trial, but a judge allowed it. A status hearing on the case is scheduled for June 8th.

If convicted, Johnson faces up to 40 years in prison. Johnson's family has run SC Johnson for five generations.