The CEO of a Chicago-based record label Michael Johnston was arrested in Lake View on 9 November as he was accused of criminal charges and in a civil lawsuit of setting up hidden cameras to record his nanny and her friend. He was released the next morning and was ordered by the judge to have no contact with the witness according to the Cook County state's attorney’s office. He is demanded to be in court again on Wednesday.
According to the lawsuit, Michael Johnston and his wife Kelly Johnston recorded the nanny and her friend while they were bathing or undressing. The camera was hidden in a picture frame aimed at a bathtub where the two were encouraged to take bath.
According to a Joint statement, Michael Johnston was fired on 12 November as the president and CEO of Schubas Tavern, Lincoln Hall, Audiotree, and Tied House which was bought by him with his father, William Johnston, a wealthy investor of Michigan.
The label Audiotree released an official statement regarding Michael Johnston which said, “In light of the allegations against co-founder Michael Johnston, he has been removed as President & CEO of Audiotree, Audiotree Presents, Lincoln Hall, Schubas, and Tied House. As of Saturday, November 12, Johnston is no longer a part of the Audiotree team. We respectfully ask for patience as we navigate this challenging time. Co-founder and COO Adam Thurston will now lead the companies as President & CEO.”
Johnston had placed motion-activated cameras in private areas around the home in order to record the women without their consent according to the Lawsuit. They also stated that Michael was seen in a video moving cameras to record a jacuzzi bathtub in the master bedroom. He was seen standing in the bathtub and reviewing the video on a cell phone to make sure it was positioned properly.
As per the lawsuit statements, his wife, Kelly Johnston encouraged them to use the bathtub while they looked after their children when leaving the house. The lawsuit also recounted one alleged incident in 2019 when his wife told the nanny to organize a box in their bedroom closet that contained sex toys which made the woman feel extremely uncomfortable.
Coincidentally, the nanny noticed one of the cameras in a picture frame pointed at the bathtub in February 2020. The couple hired two women who were recent graduates of DePaul University and were known as Jane Doe and Julie Doe in court filings as per their attorney Gail Eisenberg. Jane Doe was hired as a home manager, child caretaker, and personal assistant for the couple in December 2019 whereas Julie Doe was employed as a nanny for the couple’s friends.
According to the court documents, Jane had found two spy cameras one in a bathroom and the other in a bedroom.
Johnston’s attorney Damon Cheronis said in an email, “Mr. Johnston takes those allegations seriously and will continue to work through the appropriate legal process.” However, his wife, Kelly has not been charged.
Michael Johnston was also on the board of his mother’s charity, the Stryker Johnston Foundation and this lawsuit is seeking more than $75,000 in damages.