Judge denies change of venue

A request by former Huntington University coach Nicholas Johnson for a change of venue has been denied. The request, which was filed in Huntington County Superior Court in April, was rejected on June 2. Johnson is facing a felony count of sexual battery, and is named in a lawsuit in which former Huntington athletes accuse him of sexually assault, rape and illegally supplying them with performance enhancing drugs. His attorneys filed the change of venue motion, claiming he would not receive a fair trial in Huntington County for a number of reasons, including publicity surrounding the lawsuit.