A handyman from Florida, who received a pardon from President Trump for his involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot, has been found guilty of several child molestation charges, according to prosecutors.
Andrew Paul Johnson was convicted by a jury in Hernando County on five counts, which include sexual abuse of a child under 12, sexual abuse of a child under 16, and lewd exposure. This was first reported by NPR.
Johnson was acquitted on one charge regarding transmitting sexual material to a minor and had been arrested for this in August, as reported by the newspaper.
A police document reveals that Johnson’s abuse of the child occurred “over a period of several months.”
The mother of one of the victims found out that Johnson had been sending “inappropriate” messages to her son through Discord, a gaming platform, as detailed in the police report.
When the boy was asked about it, he stated that Johnson had abused him three times “between April 1, 2024, and October 2024,” starting when he was just 11 years old.
There were also claims made by Johnson that the Trump administration was compensating him with $10 million in restitution. He reportedly pressured the victim to remain silent about the abuse and suggested he would accept whatever money was left, according to the report.
While some of the individuals convicted on January 6 have talked about paying restitution, so far, nothing has been awarded.
The police report mentions, “This tactic is [redacted name]. She is prohibited from revealing what Andrew did to her.”
Previously, Johnson pleaded guilty to nonviolent charges concerning the January 6 Capitol riot and was sentenced to one year in prison in 2024, according to sentencing documents.
Prosecutors had recommended sentencing by noting that “Mr. Johnson climbed through broken glass and entered the U.S. Capitol through a broken Oval Office window,” while encouraging others to follow him.
He was among approximately 1,500 individuals charged due to the events of January 6, and Trump granted him a pardon during his second term.
Johnson was also involved in “disorderly and disruptive conduct” at the Capitol for several hours before police intervened.
Moreover, he allegedly spread misinformation about the riot on social media and called for another riot a year after his arrest, as prosecutors claimed.
[Johnson] has disregarded the conditions of his release on at least 10 occasions and has a lengthy criminal record, stated the memorandum.
Johnson faces the possibility of life in prison when he is sentenced in March, as indicated by William Forgie, chief assistant prosecutor for Florida’s 5th Judicial Circuit.
No immediate comment was obtained from Johnson’s attorney.
