Stepdad of hot dog stand teen arrested

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The stepfather of a 13-year-old hot dog stand entrepreneur was arrested in Ottawa County earlier this week after police say he pretended to be an attorney.

Douglas Johnson, Jr. allegedly told three people that he was an attorney and agreed to represent one of them in a pending federal case, according to the Kent County Sheriff's Department.

Johnson collected a retainer from the victim, but then failed to show up to a scheduled court hearing for the victim and did not perform any work in exchange for the money, authorities say.

The victim complained of the apparent fraud to the Kent County Sheriff's Department on May 7.

The investigation revealed Johnson is not a licensed lawyer.

A warrant for false pretenses over $1,000 and under $20,000 was issued on May 31, but Johnson was not arrested until Aug. 13 in Ottawa County.

Johnson's arraignment is pending.

Johnson's stepson, Nathan Duszynski, was given the go-ahead Wednesday to reopen his hot dog stand after being shut down by the City of Holland in July.