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Where is Anna Stubblefield Now? Who is Anna Stubblefield?
by Mathelene
Updated Jun 18, 2024
Where is Anna Stubblefield Now?
As of now, Anna Stubblefield lives a private life away from public attention. Initially convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 2016 and sentenced to 12 years in prison, she later had her conviction overturned, which led to a new trial. Ultimately, she pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal sexual contact and accepted a plea deal that resulted in her serving time already spent in custody.
Stubblefield has since divorced her husband. Her case drew attention due to its complex legal and ethical issues surrounding consent and intellectual disability, as she had maintained that the person involved could communicate consent. Since these legal proceedings, she has kept a low profile.
Who is Anna Stubblefield?
Anna Stubblefield was a philosophy professor at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. Her parents, both Ph.D.s in special education, were early practitioners of facilitated communication (F.C.), a technique claiming to aid communication for people with disabilities.
Stubblefield herself worked with F.C., including with a man named Johnson, whom she described as a fast learner. Her personal life became public when she was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 2016 for her relationship with Johnson, while she was married with two children. Despite her conviction being overturned later, she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Derrick Johnson and Anna Stubblefield
Derrick Johnson and Anna Stubblefield first met in 2009 through Johnson's brother, who was in Stubblefield’s class at Rutgers University. Stubblefield introduced Johnson to facilitated communication (F.C.) after showing a film about a nonverbal girl using the method. Over the next two years, Stubblefield assisted Johnson in typing by physically supporting his hand.
Their relationship evolved beyond academic work, and they became romantically involved, culminating in sexual activity at Stubblefield’s office on the Rutgers campus. This relationship sparked controversy and legal issues, leading to Stubblefield’s conviction for aggravated sexual assault in 2016, which was later overturned.
Tell Them You Love Me
The documentary "Tell Them You Love Me," now on Netflix, explores the legal case involving Anna Stubblefield, a Rutgers University professor. Stubblefield was convicted in 2015 for sexually abusing Derrick Johnson, a nonverbal man she had been working with using facilitated communication (F.C.).
The film delves into the complexities of their relationship, how it unfolded amidst Stubblefield's academic career, and the ethical questions it raised about consent and disability rights. This case drew significant attention due to its controversial aspects and the broader debate surrounding the validity and ethical implications of facilitated communication as a means of communication for individuals with disabilities.
