A Florida man who beforehand pleaded responsible to costs associated to the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol has been sentenced to life in jail after a jury convicted him of sexually abusing two middle-school-aged kids.
Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, was discovered responsible Thursday on 5 legal counts, together with molestation, lewd and lascivious exhibition, and transmission of fabric dangerous to a minor. A Florida court docket sentenced him to life in jail following the decision.
Prosecutors stated Johnson abused an 11-year-old boy and a 12-year-old woman over an prolonged interval, utilizing his function as a trusted grownup within the boy’s family to achieve entry to the kids.
How Johnson Grew to become Concerned with the Household
In response to testimony offered at trial, Johnson first met the boy’s mom at a political rally in 2023. The lady, who was elevating two boys on her personal, allowed Johnson to remain on the sofa in her house. She testified that Johnson labored as a handyman and had provided to assist with repairs round the home.
On the time, Johnson had already been charged in reference to the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, although his federal case had not but concluded.
The boy testified that the abuse started when he fell asleep whereas watching a film with Johnson.
“I awoke within the morning, and he was touching me,” the boy advised jurors. “I felt him touching me in my non-public space.”
When prosecutors requested why he didn’t report the incident instantly, the boy stated he was frightened.
“I used to be too nervous… I used to be scared,” he testified.
The boy stated Johnson later warned him to not inform anybody concerning the incident.
Prior Jan. 6 Conviction and Pardon
In April 2024, Johnson pleaded responsible in federal court docket in Washington, D.C., to a number of nonviolent costs linked to the Capitol breach. He was sentenced in August 2024 to 1 yr in jail adopted by one yr of supervised launch.
In January 2025, shortly after starting his sentence, Johnson acquired a presidential pardon together with many different defendants charged within the Jan. 6 incident.
After his launch, Johnson posted on-line, thanking former President Donald Trump for the pardon.
Abuse Continued After Launch
Prosecutors stated Johnson later re-entered the lives of the boy and his household, and the abuse continued.
In response to testimony, Johnson communicated with the boy via the net gaming platform Roblox and the messaging service Discord. A number of the messages included sexually specific content material.
Johnson additionally frolicked with the boy and the boy’s 12-year-old feminine buddy, taking them to actions akin to paintball and trampoline parks.
Each kids testified that Johnson uncovered himself to them, made sexually specific feedback, and abused the woman.
“We had been scared,” the woman advised the court docket. “We didn’t understand that these things was not okay as a result of we had been 12 years outdated.”
Discovery and Arrest
The abuse got here to mild in July 2025 when the boy’s mom found regarding messages on her son’s Discord account.
“She requested us if he did something,” the woman testified. “We had been reluctant at first as a result of we had been scared. However then we advised her.”
The mom contacted regulation enforcement quickly afterward.
Authorities positioned Johnson in Tennessee on Aug. 26, 2025, roughly seven months after he had acquired the presidential pardon. He was taken into custody and later prosecuted in Florida.
Following his conviction on 5 counts associated to sexual abuse of minors, Johnson was sentenced to life in jail.
