James Earl Johnson, who was arrested on March 6, has been accused of keeping his 46-year-old wife locked in a bedroom at the Houston home they shared with their children

James Earl Johnson
Credit: Houston Police Department

A Houston man has been accused of keeping his disabled wife captive in their home for five years, according to reports.

On March 6, James Earl Johnson was arrested after police discovered he had allegedly been holding his 46-year-old wife, who is disabled, locked in their bedroom at their Clear Lake home, with no phone access, ABC13 Houston, FOX 26 Houston and The Independent reported.

Johnson left his phone on a nightstand on Friday night and his wife used it to call 911. Johnson allegedly slapped his wife and carried her back to bed before hanging up the call, according to Harris County court documents obtained by the outlets.

The couple’s home in Clear Lake, Houston
Credit: Google Maps

Johnson was arrested that same day and charged with injury to a disabled person and abandoning a disabled person. He was later released on a bond of $100,000, per FOX 26 Houston.

According to a probable cause order obtained by The Independent, investigators said that Johnson allegedly hadn’t been feeding his wife consistently, only providing her with an egg a day and some dinner, and didn’t provide her with adequate medical care for her disability.

The wife, who has not been identified, reportedly contacted the police about Johnson on Nov. 16, 2025.

When officers arrived at the house, Johnson’s wife told them she and her children had been instructed not to say anything to the police, authorities told ABC13 Houston. A police report wasn’t filed at the time.

Johnson purchased the $1 million five-bedroom home in 2015 and had lived their with his wife for at least six years, per The Independent. citing county property records.

James Earl Johnson
Credit: Houston Police Department

The wife’s son told ABC13 Houston on Monday, March 9, that his mother was in the hospital, but did not share any further information on her condition.

Following his release on bail, Johnson has been ordered to stay away from their home. He will next appear in court on March 18, per The Independent.

The Houston Police and the Harris County District Clerk’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.