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More trouble for Tracy Johnson: Man once convicted of murder faces another felony charge

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By Dustin Lemmon | Tuesday, August 07, 2007 |

It was during a residential burglary in 1989 that Tracy Eugene Johnson murdered a 72-year-old man and it was an alleged residential burglary Sunday that now has Johnson facing his ninth felony offense since his release.

Johnson, 39, of 720 10th St., Rock Island, was charged Tuesday in Rock Island County Circuit Court with a felony count of residential burglary.

The latest burglary occurred around 5:15 p.m. Sunday at a home in the 900 block of 7th Avenue. The 58-year-old female victim reported the burglary to police about an hour after it occurred, court records state.

The murder victim, Stearns Crapnell, was killed with a club during a break-in at his home at 313 11th St., Rock Island, in September 1989. Johnson was sentenced to 70 years in prison for the murder and 15 years for the burglary, but in 1999 the appellate court vacated the convictions based on a change in state laws and did not allow a retrial.

Since then Johnson has been charged in multiple burglaries, an aggravated battery, two armed robberies and another robbery in Rock Island County, but all of the charges have either been dismissed or he has won acquittal from a jury.

He also had a felony robbery charge in Scott County dismissed in 2004.

In April, Johnson pleaded guilty to his latest felony charge for a theft in July 2006, and was given credit for time served in jail and 30 months probation.

Prior to Johnson’s arrest for Crapnell’s murder in 1989, he already had a lengthy criminal history and had spent time in prison for a theft conviction in 1986. A residential burglary charge in 1988 was dismissed.

Crapnell had lived in Rock Island since 1950 and had run for city council in the 1970s. He was an estate planner and insurance underwriter.

Rock Island County State’s Attorney Jeff Terronez declined comment on the latest charge against Johnson on Tuesday and past efforts to prosecute him.

Johnson was in custody at the Rock Island County Jail Tuesday on $50,000 bond. He has a court date set for Aug. 14.

Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at

(563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.