Mourners Attend Funeral For Kentucky Lawmaker Dan Johnson

LOUISVILLE, KY — A long column of motorcycle riders revved their bikes as they followed a hearse carrying the body of Rep. Don Johnson, Kentucky state lawmaker who apparently killed himself amid accusations of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

WDRB-TV showed video of Judah Johnson addressing mourners who packed the Heart of Fire church in Louisville to remember his father. Judah Johnson said of his father's life that "it's a lot to celebrate."

The small church where the state lawmaker preached was packed for the freshman legislator's funeral Monday in Louisville. A cold, light rain fell as mourners filed out of Heart of Fire church.

The Rep. Johnson found himself in the spotlight a week ago when the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting published an account from a woman who said Johnson sexually assaulted her in the basement of his home in 2013. A day after the report, Johnson termed the allegations "totally false" during a news conference at his church where he was the self-appointed "pope." He died the following night.

The funeral procession included about two dozen motorcycles. The church sign said bikers were welcome.

The funeral for Dan Johnson, who apparently killed himself last week amid accusations of sexually assaulting a teenage girl, is being held in the same church where he had preached. He held a press conference at the church Tuesday to deny the allegations. Johnson's body was found with a gunshot wound to the head, a day after he denied the accusations.

State Rep. Wesley Morgan said the church was so full he couldn't get in to attend the funeral. Morgan said he and Johnson shared an office at the Kentucky Capitol in Frankfort and that Johnson was a "pretty good guy."

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