HOUSTON – He's made life at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse sweeter for more than a decade. A group of lawyers and judges are stepping up to help him in his time of need.
Rick Johnson is the courthouse candyman, selling M&Ms and other items outside the steps of the busy downtown Houston building.
He considers some of the highest profile attorneys and judges his friends.
"Kim Ogg, she's number one in the book. Congratulations Kim!" Johnson said of Harris County's new district attorney -elect.
Johnson shows up for them when they least expect it. He attended funeral services for defense attorney Kent Schaffer's daughter, who died unexpectedly two years ago.
"People I'd been friends with for years weren't there that day, because they had brunch plans or a golf game, and here's this guy who had spent hours to get five or six miles on his cane to be there on the front row for me and for my daughter," Schaffer said.
This summer when Johnson disappeared from his usual courthouse spot attorneys called Houston police and hired a private investigator.
Defense attorney Vivian King finally tracked him down.
"I called his family members, and they said he was in the hospital, fighting colon cancer," King said.
King and others are stepping in to make sure his bills are covered and that he's not alone.
Johnson said he was overwhelmed by the support.
"You got to give to get. They've been a blessing to me," he said.
A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help provide Johnson with full-time home healthcare assistance. https://www.gofundme.com/rickjohnsoninhomehealthcareassistancefund?ssid=822807138&pos=1